APPLES 



371 



the high quality of output at which they 

 have aimed can be secured only by the dis- 

 tinct separation of the processes of grad- 

 ing and pacliing. In the districts bearing 

 the enviable reputations for their apple 

 product, however, this fact has been recog- 

 nized and the division made. It is doubt- 

 ful if a paclver exists, who, under the 

 pieceworlv system and at a rate of pay- 

 ment possible tor the grower to give, will 

 pay the attention to botli processes at 

 once such as is required to satisfy the 

 present demand as to grade and paclv 

 caused by the increasing competition in 

 the apple market. This does not mean 

 that the packer should not still be held 

 responsible for the grade as well as the 

 pack, however. On the contrary, in the 

 most progressive districts he is so held 

 responsible and in an actually operative 

 manner, by withholding his pay until his 

 work is accepted by the proper inspector, 

 at which time, of course, his responsibility 

 ceases. As is but just, he is at the same 

 time given the right to refuse to pack 

 apples not properly sorted. The Hood 

 River Apple Growers' Union has been the 

 pioneer and the leader in its efforts to 

 secure a perfect product through a strict 

 management of its packers. 



Various methods for controlling the 

 packer under various conditions, in order 

 to secure a good quality of output from 

 him, including those just mentioned, are 

 enumerated herewith: (li paying by the 

 day, rather than by the piece (which 

 practice has rarely anywhere bean contin- 

 ued long, because of the lack of incentive 

 for the packers to work at a speed profit- 

 able to the employer): (2) separation of 

 the processes of grading and packing; 

 (3) classifying the packers according 

 to the rate of speed at which they can 

 do good work, and Setting a limit for 

 the output in number of boxes per hour 

 for each class; (4) making the packer 

 financially responsible by withholding 

 his pay until his boxes have been ac- 

 cepted by the proper inspector; (.5) grant- 

 ing the packer the right to refuse to 

 pack apples not properly sorted; (6) 

 paying the packer at a fair rate for ap- 



ples, not culls, which he sorts out which 

 are not of the grade he is packing (be- 

 sides helping to keep the lines between 

 the grades distinct, tiiis serves as a 

 check upon the graders); (7) requiring 

 each packer to insert a slip into each 

 box which he packs, containing his num- 

 ber, the definition of the grade which he 

 is packing, and a request that the cus- 

 tomer return the slip with a complaint 

 if the pack is not satisfactory or the 

 grade not up to standard. To identify 

 each packer's boxes, most associations 

 furnish their packers with number stamps 

 upon the deposit of the proper price, the 

 number to appear on each box the packer 

 puts out. 



The problem of expense in the packing 

 house has been an increasing one, due 

 in a large measure to the increasing 

 exactitude of the standards of grade and 

 pack, together with the increase of the 

 apple crop beyond the supply of com- 

 petent labor to care for it. Economy can 

 be secui'ed only through the items of 

 materials and labor. As to the first, 

 little improvement can be looked for im- 

 mediately. It should be remembered 

 in the preparing of any article for mar- 

 ket, that cheapness and saving do not 

 necessarily mean economy, and that ex- 

 pense borne merely to impress the con- 

 sumer frequently brings excellent re- 

 turns. 



Most of the economy in the packing 

 house must come through the saving of 

 labor. The tender nature of the apple, 

 as compared to the orange, deferred until 

 recent years the devising of machinery 

 for handling the former fruit such as is 

 used for the latter. It would seem that 

 now, however, under the increasing neces- 

 sity for economy along every line, ma- 

 chinery and devices for liandling the ap- 

 ples are to be the chief factors toward 

 gaining the desired end. 



Some really worthy effort has been ex- 

 pended in trying to perfect these various 

 machines. The wiping machine saves 

 hand work. The combined sorting and 

 packing table, the sorting belt, the pro- 



