192 



Jiiitr)ial of Agriculture , Victoria. 



[lo Mar., 191 1 



Methods of Packing. 



The method in which tlie major portion of this .shipment has been 

 prepared for export is as follows : — 



The fruit was first graded, wrapped in wrapping paper, and packed in 

 trays mea.suring 18 inches long, 15 inches wide and 2| inches deep. Each 

 tray, both top and bottom, was packed with a layer of wood-wool. As 

 the trays were filled they were cleated together in lots of three trays with 

 fine hoop-iron nailed aromid each end of the package. This combination 

 forms a package (,'qual in dimensions to the bushel case. The package 

 was then branded in accordance with the requirements of the Commerce 

 Act and immediately cool-stored. This method of packing was not adopted 

 by all of the shippers. Some few lots were packed in ths ordinary 

 '' flat " bushel and half-bushel cases which are used in the inter-State 

 trade. These were shipped for the purpose of trying if the fruit wo»!ld 



PACKERS AT WORK. BALES OF WOOD-WOOL IN BACKGROUND. 



carry as well in the ordinary packages as in those composed of specially 

 prepared trays. If the results prove favourable it is probable that future 

 shipments will consist largely of the ordinary cases, as the total cost of 

 making these up is considerably less than is incurred in shipping the fruit 

 in trays. Ice-cars were utilized to transfer the fruit from the Government 

 Cool Stores to the .ship's side. Each of these cars contained about 450 

 cases. The fruit on arrival at the vessel's side was at once transferred to 

 the hold where it was placed in a temperature ranging from 30 to 31 

 degrees. 



With the extension of the system of establishing cold storage in each 

 of the fruit-growing centres, and the increased application of more up-to- 

 date and .scientific methods of transporting and marketing our fruits, the 

 use of ice-cars will become more and more popular, and will gradually 

 replace the u.se of the old louvre type which, from its form of construc- 

 tion, (allowing as it does free access to the outer atmosphere) provides, in 

 hot weather, an ideal ripening machine for fruit during transit. 



