GRAPES. 249 



board. The grapes must be laid in carefully, shaken 

 lightly to make them pack firmly, and filled even with 

 the top. The boxes thus prepared are placed in larger 

 boxes, and are then ready for shipment. 



When grapes are properly handled in picking, so that 

 they are not broken or bruised, they may be kept for 

 months by the following simple process : 



Nail cleats on the inside of nice, clean boxes, about an 

 inch from the top, and between them, on the inside of the 

 top of the box, nail bars, made of two strips of wood 

 placed one on the other, the lower one the widest, so that 

 there will be a ledge on each side of the narrower center 

 strip. 



Let the grapes hang on the vines as late as possible, and 

 then cut the bearing shoot so that the bunch of grapes will 

 lie in the center ; cut the shoot to fit so that it will slide in 

 by a tight fit on the bars, one end resting on a ledge of 

 each ; this will hang the bunches in their natural position, 

 allowing the air to circulate freely all around them. Put 

 the cover on the box (loose), and place the latter in as 

 cool a place as you can find ; remove the cover now and 

 then and examine the bunches, taking off any dried or 

 decaying berries. 



