TOMATO 



297 



mens. Ordinarily there is no advantage in having more 

 than two grades. 



Fig. 96. Tomatoes are sometimes wrapped and packed in the manner shown in 

 this illustration. 



A great many different kinds of packages (Figs. 95, 96, 

 97 and 98) are used for the handling of forced tomatoes. 

 They vary in capacity from 4 to 25 pounds. Baskets 

 similar in shape to those in which grapes are packed so 

 extensively are most largely employed. The quantity 

 commonly packed in a basket is 10 pounds, though 1.5 and 

 20-pound sizes are not unusual, especially for^he spring 

 crop, when prices are relatively low. Some growers use 

 paper cartons of various descriptions. New England 

 growers often pack eight paper boxes, each holding six 

 pounds of fruit, in their standard bushel box, which may 

 then be crated for shipment. The weighing of the toma- 

 toes should be accurate, so that there can be no complaint 

 on that account. 



Winter tomatoes are always wrapped in paper unless 

 they are sold on a local market. To insure safe trans- 

 portation a common practice is to place a layer of ex- 

 celsior in the bottom of the basket and also between 

 layers of the fruit to prevent bruising. It is an advantage 



