TRUCK FARMING. 603 



special vegetable will admit of. It is impossible, for instance, so to fill 

 a crate witli beans as to be fall at destination. It should, however, be 

 borne in mind by the grower that these buyers cannot bo imposed upon* 

 readily. They are too experienced not to see at a glance what degree 

 of emptiness to attribute to natural shrinkage and what to careless 

 pacldug. If crates or barrels are filled in a heedless, neglectful manner, 

 hastily nailed np, and hurriedly dispatched, the probabilities are Ili:it 

 returns will be unsatisfactory. If vacant spaces are left between the 

 contents, they will be filled by the shaking down in transit. Articles 

 not too small to be handled singly should be packed so carefully as to be 

 subject to very little settling. The only vegetables at present generally 

 grown for the ]Srorthern markets which may be dumped into the pack- 

 ages and thoroughly shaken down for shipment are beans, onions, i)eas, 

 and potatoes. Cucumbers are frequently so treated, but not witli pro- 

 priety. Whatever the vegetable, the contents of the package should so 

 bulge up beyond its level as to require some force to pre.-s on the head 

 or cover. A slight bruising of the upper layer is of no importance when 

 the entire contents are protected from abrasion by the close packing. 

 The pernicious practice of " deaconing," " topping," or placing in the 

 upper layer articles of better quality, and in the lower of inferior should 

 be discountenanced by the trade. It is unfortunately too much done, 

 while neither more nor less than an attempt to swindle. If every one 

 who ships a package so filled would consider that his mark becomes a 

 reflection on his honesty, he would shun the practice, eventuating in 

 his own benefit, for the mark would then become known and sought in 

 market. 



For purposes of ventilation the laths of a crate should bi^ as far apart 

 as the size and character of the special vegetable will admit of without 

 danger of its being cut or indented by the edges of the laths. With the 

 same purpose in view holes should be cut both in the head and sides ot 

 barrels, and none but clean, sound, round-hooped ones should be used. 

 Such vegetables only as are sold by count, as radishes per bunch, for 

 instance, may be packed in larger sugar barrels or the smaller flat- 

 hooped "pony" barrels. Crates should in all cases be constructed with 

 a center piece to secure stability, dividing them into two equal parts. 

 The dimensions of the head and center pieces are 8 inches by 14 inches 

 and the length of the laths 2 feet. Unless their width is suited to the 

 particular vegetable to be packed it may become troublesome to arrange 

 a proper width of the interspaces. For tomatoes antl cucumbers they 

 should be fully 2 inches wide. If rectangular packages were put up in 

 large piles on shipboard there could be no access of air to all. For pur- 

 poses of ventilation, then, the corners of end and center pieces are cut 

 ofl", giving them an octagonal shape. The corners should bo about lialf 

 an inch wider than the laths in order to admit air when piled. The cor- 

 ners are not removed in barrel crates, the dimensions of these being II 

 by 20 by 3G inches. If the crate is to be shaken down two or three laths 

 are loosely placed over the bulging contents and the packer, grasping 

 each end together with the laths to prevent jolting out, lifts them alter- 

 natel}', allowing each to come to the floor with a sudden thump, and 

 this process is repeated until the contents are thoroughly settled. The 

 packages should be plainly and neaMy marked on each end, all old 

 brands on second-hand barrels having been completely removed with 

 the scraper. Sappy pine makes a lighter crate than heart wood; but 

 when made of unseasoned lumber the bundles should be opened and the 

 laths aired and dried to prevent the highly objectionable molding which 

 otherwise ensues. 



