FRUIT SHOWS 



273 



In judging a commercial box pack the first considera- 

 tion is usually the package. The box is looked over 

 critically. Anything that might detract from a good ap- 

 pearance is noted. Soil marks, use of weathered boards, 

 bad or unsightly knots, carelessness in nailing are 

 summed up, and each one is marked off in proportion to 

 its value on the official score card. The next step is to 

 study the way the fruit is placed in the package. The 

 bulge calls for 100 points and is the most important, as 

 upon it depends the ease in which the fruit will carry 

 to market. This bulge needs to be at least an inch above 

 the box at the center and form a regular curve to the 

 ends. If the apples do not come above the box, all is 

 marked off ; if only half enough, 50 points are taken off, 

 and so on. If one side is higher than the other, or the 

 curve is not regular enough, points are taken off to 

 indicate the defect. This is a matter of judgment for 

 the judges, but seldom will two fail to agree on any one 

 point. 



Fig. 133. JUDGING COMPACTNESS 



