PACKING, MARKING, SHIPPING, ETC. 443 



" Handling. All fruit, of whatever kind, should be han- 

 dled with the greatest care, so as not to bruise it, even 

 slightly, as oftentimes where a little bruise does not show 

 when fruit is packed, in ten or twelve hours afterwards 

 the article is half, if not totally destroyed, causing the 

 fruit in contact with it to also decay, and injuring the sale 

 of the same, as buyers will discount imperfect or decayed 

 fruit. Great care should also be taken in handling the 

 packages after fruit is packed, as a blow or fall will pene- 

 trate through the entire package, bruising the contents 

 oftentimes badly. 



"Apples. Assort those uniform in size and quality, pack 

 in clean barrels; take out one head, commence packing by 

 placing a tier of apples with their ends to the closed head 

 of the barrel, then fill up without bruising the fruit, shake 

 down thoroughly, and fill the barrel so full that the head 

 must be pressed in with a lever, flattening the last tier of 

 apples, and even starting the juice. Nail the head and 

 hoops with four-penny nails, turn the barrel over, and on 

 the head not opened mark plainly the variety in each bar- 

 rel. Apples packed in this way show a fine, handsome 

 face when opened. 



" Pears. This delicate fruit must be packed and shipped 

 when it is fully matured and before it has ripened, so as to 

 insure arrival in good order. Pears are not as elastic as 

 apples. Line the sides, top, and bottom of the barrel or 

 package with straw-paper, to prevent the fruit being 

 stained by the wood of the barrel or package. Assort and 

 pack same as apples, except placing the blossom-end of 

 the fruit upon the end not opened. When the barrel is 

 full, press the head in firmly without starting the juice. 

 Summer Pears, if over two days on the way, should be 

 ventilated, otherwise the package should be tight, as the 

 fruit will ripen more uniformly and hold its color 

 better." 



Packing Pears for Distant Markets. The French send 



