110 



POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



age and packing is much more than where barrels are used. 

 Much fancy fruit from the Western states is wrapped in paper 

 before it is packed and is then put in the boxes in layers by, 

 hand. Of course such fruit ships and keeps better than fruit not 

 so carefully handled. 



In some local markets it is customary to sell a large amount 

 of choice fruit in a return package which is not covered. Such 

 boxes present a much improved appearance if the fruit is faced 

 down and packed in layers. This is done by taking off the bot- 



Fig. 53. Fruit press for packing bushel boxes, a. Box in place with 

 cover ready for nailing, b. Foot lever. 



torn, placing the box, bottom end up, on a small shutter and then 

 putting in the fruit in layers. The bottom boards are then 

 nailed on and the box turned upright. It is often worth while 

 to take considerable care in packing fruit even if intended only 

 for local consumption. A box packed in layers will hold con- 

 siderably more than one in which the fruit is poured in. 



In packing apples and pears in boxes for shipment to distant 

 markets, some pressure must be applied to insure the fruit be- 

 ing solid and firm in the boxes. This is generally given by 

 springing on the head boards, which leaves the top bulging. 



