8 



The Bulletin. 



tant that it be done carefully. AVitk the softer varieties of fruit and 

 vegetables, such as peaches, plums, tomatoes and eggplant, that are 

 usually put in small packages, each specimen should be placed by hand. 

 This not only makes the pack more attractive, but it lessens the liability 

 to damage resulting from bruises. Produce of a firm nature, as apples, 

 potatoes, etc., will not bruise so readily, and as a result it is not neces- 

 sarv to handle each individual specimen in packing. 



Each package should be well filled, with the contents placed firmly 

 and snugly. Every day consignments are placed on the market showing 

 evidences of carekss packing. Consider for a moment the average route 

 traveled by a barrel of apples, or potatoes, or, it may be, a basket of 

 cucumbers', or "snap" beans. The package is taken from the packing- 

 shed or from the field and loaded into a wagon. It is then hauled, say 

 from one to six miles over the average country road to the railroad 

 station or steamboat wharf, where it is again transferred to either a 

 car or boat. After traveling from twenty to two hundred miles, and 

 possibly more, it is again unloaded and placed in a wagon and this time 

 hauled for several squares over the usual city street, until it finally 

 reaches its destination and is ready to be opened for the inspection of 

 the general public and the criticism of the possible buyer. Unless this 

 package has been well filled and packed before starting, it will reach 

 the market in what is commonly called a "slack" condition. The numer- 



Fig. 2 B. — Loosely-packed Cabbage. 



Fig. 2 A. — Poorly-packed Potatoes. 



ous handlings and jarrings received en route will have caused the con- 

 tents to settle and shrink and as a result the package will be only par- 

 tiallv full. Fig. 2 A shows a barrel of potatoes as it reached market. 



