FRUIT-PACKING OPERATIONS 



rangement for putting on the tops or covers of the 

 boxes. There are a number of different types of presses 

 on the market, but the essential principle of all 

 of them is some kind of a lever arrangement which will 

 catch the boxes on the ends and not exert any pressure 

 on the fruit except what is required to spring the pieces 

 of wood used for cov- 

 ers. If these catches 

 can be worked auto- 

 matically by the foot, 

 they will be much 

 more convenient be- 

 cause it leaves both 

 hands free to fit the 

 top and do the nail- 

 ing. These presses 

 can be made by any 

 carpenter, or they can 

 be purchased from 

 package supply 

 houses. Along with 

 each press is used 

 what is known as a 



<k Xail Stripper" (Fig. 72). This is a device for holding 

 the nails in a convenient way for nailing. Fine wires 

 are so arranged that the nails are caught by the head 

 and hang loose so the nailer can easily grasp them. 



Rules in Packing. Where cooperative organizations 

 do the packing, the grower is not allowed to do anything 

 but pick and grade the fruit. In some instances the fruit 

 is picked by [lie owner and carried direct to the packing- 

 house where experts grade and place the fruit in the 



Fig. 71. A HOME-MADE BOX 

 XAILIXG PRESS 



