PACKING AXD j/,i A'AV-.TAYG: FRUIT GRAPES. 



327 



Some packers place a little clean, soft, dry moss over the bottom of the basket, cotton 

 wadding being objected to, and over this a layer of tissue paper reaching up and over 

 the sides. The grapes are placed as cut in the basket, stem upwards, and quite close, to 

 prevent rubbing. The more attractive the grapes appear when packed the better. 

 Place the basket of grapes in the square shallow basket ("flat"), cover the fruit with 

 a sheet of tissue paper, close the lid of the hamper, and secure it with string. Attach 

 a card to the lid outside on which " Grapes with care. Please keep this side up," is 

 legibly written or printed. Then affix a label with the contents written on the top line 

 say " Madresfield Court Grapes, 16 pounds," then the address of the salesman or 

 fruiterer to whom the package is to be forwarded, and below that the name of the sender 

 " From A. B." Such package will travel 

 safely by rail, and if displayed for sale with as 

 good a bloom as when cut from the vine they 

 realise best prices. 



Cross handle baskets are used for enormous 

 quantities of grapes, especially from the Channel 

 Islands. Each basket (Fig. 77) is lined with 

 paper, the grapes placed in stalk end upwards 

 and closely together, weighing the basket before 

 and after they are put in, then a stick is placed 

 across about midway of the distance between the 

 handle and each end, and over these sticks a 

 sheet of paper, so as to cover the whole top, securing it with string. The sticks 

 keep the paper from the grapes, the handle serving as a guard, and preventing other 

 packages from being placed on the grapes. This method of packing grapes 

 is recommended by salesmen. The baskets hold from 10 to 12 pounds of grapes. 

 Growers having only small quantities of fruit to dispose of will find their best 

 customers in fruiterers within easy reach, and these prefer the grapes packed in 

 from 2 to 4 pound split baskets. These are boat-shaped, lined with paper, covered with 

 stouter paper after the grapes are packed, and the baskets sent in crates. Grapes so 

 packed travel safely, and are very handy and acceptable to many purchasers. The 

 baskets also suit dealers and buyers, because " free " not returnable. 



For distant shipment, say to the United States of America, where English late 

 grapes realise good prices in the large cities, boxes are generally employed, capacity 25 



Fig. 77. HANDLE BASKET OF GUAPKS r.M-KKi> 

 FOR MARKKT. 



References : <!, tissue paper, e, stick 

 basket ; /, sheet of 



