HORTICULTURE 199 



Box-Press. A box-press can be devised in various ways, the 

 essential points of construction being: (a) to rest the box on the 

 ends so that when the top is nailed down the bottom is free to bulge 

 also; (b) to catch and press down the top pieces from the ends so 

 that a minimum bruising will result. A convenient press is shown 

 in diagram where the different parts are described. The box lies 

 across the open space in the center, the pieces being caught and 

 clamped at the end by the arms. This press is built for boxes of 

 different lengths. 



Packing. Before placing the apples on the packing table they 

 are usually graded into different sizes. The grading is done by men 

 who are trained for the work. They take the fruit from the boxes 

 as it comes to the packing-house from the orchard and grade it into 

 different sizes. It is then placed on a table, where it is ready for the 

 packer. For growers in the east who are beginners it may be helpful 

 to use a sizer or "grader" at first. 



WHAT VARIETIES SHALL BE BOXED. 



An important (question in the east in connection with this prob- 

 lem is: What varieties shall be packed. Possibly a consideration 

 of the market will solve the question : Where and by whom are the 

 apples used? A large part probably the larger part of the apples 

 grown in New York, and other parts of the east, such varieties as the 

 Rhode Island, Baldwin and Ben Davis, is used for cooking. For 

 these varieties the barrel now used is well adapted. 



At the same time, a large number of fancy varieties are grown, 

 such as the Northern Spy, Mclntosh, Esopus, Yellow Newtown, 

 Fameuse, Jonathan, and the like, which are used for dessert. Such 

 apples are in demand. The consumer is willing to pay a good price 

 for a fancy article. For such varieties it would seem that the box 

 is better adapted than the barrel. In the first place the barrel is too 

 large, and in the second place, it does not adapt itself to careful 

 packing, because of which there is too much bruising. The box is 

 a better size and is well adapted to careful and attractive packing. 

 Then, too, some of the varieties will pack well in either the box or 

 the barrel, according to the market for which they are intended. 

 The Baldwin might be mentioned as such a variety. Below is given 

 a table of the common varieties, arranged as adapted to the box or 

 the barrel. 



VARIETIES SUGGESTED FOR PACKING IN BOX OR BARREL. 



Box. Either box or barrel. Barrel. 



Esopus. Alexander. Alexander. 



Fall Pippin. Baldwin. Baldwin. 



Fameuse. Gilliflower. Ben Davis. 



Grimes. Hubbardston. Gano. 



Hubbardston. Ehode Island. Ehode Island. 



Jonathan. Rome. Roxbury. 



Mclntosh. Tompkins King. Twenty Ounce. 



Northern Spy. Twenty Ounce. 

 Tompkina King. 

 Wagoner. 

 Wealthy. 

 Yellow Newtown. 



