158 THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



sides, in order that they may be washed readily, and also to prevent 

 the sugar of the raisins from adhering to them. They should be large 

 enough to just fit inside a box or frame, and are used to keep the raisins 

 steady while being changed from the frame to the box. They are also 

 placed on top of the raisin frames when they are being pressed. 



Paper. Several kinds of paper are used in the raisin business. 

 Heavy yellow manilla paper is used to place in the sweatboxes, one 

 sheet between every two layers of raisins. The paper should be 

 heavy, and cut to fit the box. Many growers use too short paper, 

 which always has the inconvenience of causing the raisins to mix and 

 become entangled. Only one whole sheet of paper should be used at 

 a time; two short sheets will not answer, as, in lifting out a layer of 

 raisins, the assorter takes hold of the four corners of the paper, and 

 thus readily lifts out the raisin block. Lighter paper for lining the 

 raisin boxes is used, both for layers and loose. The paper generally 

 used is common book paper twenty-one by twenty-eight inches, and 

 forty, fifty or sixty pounds to the ream in quality. Previous to being 

 used, this paper is cut to fit the tray, a square piece being cut out of 

 every corner. When placed in the tray, the central part of the 

 paper fits the bottom of the tray, while the sides of the paper extend 

 sufficiently over the sides of the tray to meet on top when folded over 

 the raisins. Waxed tissue paper should always be placed on the top 

 of the raisins in order to prevent the moisture from the raisins in- 

 juring the colored and artistic labels. 



Colored lithographs or chromos of various designs and qualities are 

 used for all raisins packed in boxes. When bought they come in 

 three sizes. The central label should be nearly the size of the face of 

 the box. The top labels are shorter pieces, almost as wide as the box, 

 but only a few inches long. They are previously pasted to the top 

 flaps of the lining. The side labels are twice as long as the face of the 

 box, but not quite half as wide ; they are similarly pasted on the long 

 side flaps of the lining. There is a great variety of designs used, some 

 of which are not appropriate. Whatever designs we use, it will be to 

 the advantage of every country not to imitate, but to use labels char- 

 acteristic of the country and locality where the raisins are made. 



Tin Boxes. For packing raisins for tropical countries, boxes made 

 of tin should be used. The dampness in those countries causes raisins 

 packed the common way to mold and spoil. No box should contain 

 more than ten pounds of raisins, and the top should be so soldered on 

 that it can be removed without cutting or injuring the box. The 

 French system of soldering on by means of a narrow strip of tin, which 

 can be wound up, is admirable, and could hardly be improved upon. 

 Five ten-pound boxes should be packed in a light case made of light 

 timber, and the whole package when closed should not weigh over 

 sixty pounds. Four such cases will make one mule-load, and two 

 such cases can be conveniently carried by one man. 



LOOSE RAISINS. 



Stemming and Assorting. It must be understood that all the me- 

 chanical appliances and tools mentioned above should now be on hand 



