PACKAGES 



PACKAGES 



2427 



The choice of a marketing package for horticultural 



Eroducts is based largely on customs. These customs 

 ave developed gradually along with the growth of the 

 industry in any special region, and when suitable and 

 valuable they persist and become firmly fixed for the 



2699. Well-packed and not packed dessert apples. 



crop in that section. However, the supply of the 

 raw material and the possibility of securing large 

 quantities of it at a low price are important considera- 

 tions besides custom. Examples of the custom of 

 adopting a special package in a certain region might be 

 cited, as barrels for apples hi the eastern states, boxes 

 in the western states. Peaches are generally packed in 

 flat boxes in the western orchards, and each fruit is 

 wrapped in paper; the same varieties of peaches are 

 marketed from the southern states in six-basket car- 

 riers and the fruits are not wrapped, while from Michi- 

 gan the same variety may be shipped hi bushel baskets 

 and from New York orchards in the Delaware type of 

 basket. In general, it would not be advisable to pack 

 any crop in a way that would widely violate the general 



2700. Sizing machine. 



custom of the community, unless the grower has a 

 special market to receive his produce prepared in his 

 special way. 



The illustrations accompanying this article (Figs. 

 2698-2718) show some of the diverse forms of packages 

 for fruits and vegetables now in use in North America. 

 The methods of packing cut-flowers are discussed in 

 the article devoted to that subject, pages 922-925, 

 Volume II. The separate fruits may also be consulted 

 under their alphabetic entries. 



Apples (Figs. 2698-2704, to show the classes only). 



Since the beginnings of commercial apple orcharding, 

 the barrel has been regarded as the standard package 

 for the holding and shipping of apples. The size used 

 has varied at different tunes and hi different sections. 

 The size now 

 specified by the 

 United States 

 Government as 

 standard for 

 apples is, when 

 measured with- 

 out distention of 

 its parts: Length 

 of stave, 28 J^ 

 niches; diameter 

 of head, 17J^ 

 inches; distance 

 between heads, 

 26 niches; cir- 

 cumference o f 



2701. Machine for sizing fruit. 



bulge, 64 niches i^T~T 

 outside measure- jyT 

 ment ; represent- 

 ing as nearly as 1 , 1 

 possible 7,056 I" 

 cubic inches. 

 Barrels for 

 apples have been 

 hi favor for 

 many years, and 

 promise to re- 

 main so, for the 

 reason that they 

 are cheap, easily 

 secured hi most 

 regions, can be 

 readily handled 

 and easily and quickly packed, and the trade has 

 become thoroughly accustomed to them. 



The bushel box has been the standard package for 

 apples in the western United States since apple-produc- 

 tion has been of commercial importance in those regions. 

 The box is occasionally used by growers in the east- 

 ern apple regions. Formerly its use was always asso- 

 ciated with fancy grade high-quality fruit. Western 

 fruits shipped to eastern markets were of this class and 

 always came in boxes. Some eastern growers thought 

 that if even ordinary grades and quality of fruit were 

 packed hi bushel boxes, the attractive prices that were 

 secured for western fruit could be secured upon the 

 reputation of the package. The delusion was not long- 

 lived. 



As compared with the barrel, the box is a more 

 attractive package, more easily handled, shipped and 

 stored. It is easier to sell from in a store or on a fruit- 

 stand, and when the apples are closely sized, the exact 

 number in every package is known, and they are of 



2702. A sizer 



