112 Thinning, Gathering, Keeping, and Marketing. 



one to do this sufficiently without danger of bruising. The uppei 

 stratum should be made as straight and uniform as practicable, and 

 at such a height that the head of the barrel will slightly indent them 

 the dry wood absorbing the moisture and preventing decay. 



A simple contrivance is adopted by packers for placing the head 

 in position, and is shown in the annexed 

 sketch (Fig. 158). It consists of a 

 plank, a, on which the barrel stands, 

 into one end of which is dovetailed an 

 upright piece of plank, b, a little higher 

 than the top of the barrel. A slot, c, is 

 cut in its upper end, and a pin runs 

 Fig. is s. across to receive the end of the lever, </, 



which may be six or eight feet long. A 



round board is used as a follower, to be placed upon the head ; and 

 across this board is placed a cylindrical piece of wood about three 

 inches in diameter (and flat on the lower side), on which the lever is 

 placed. A moderate pressure at the end of the lever, and a little 

 practice in its use, will enable the operator to bring the head to its 

 position with great ease, precision, and accuracy. 



Before filling, the barrel should have the hoops firmly driven on 

 the bottom and nailed with shingle nails, then drive on the bulge 

 hoops and secure them with three or four barrel nails in the outside 

 ones. When filled, nail the head firmly. It is a good precaution to 

 nail a small hoop outside each head and within the staves to pre- 

 vent the bursting out of the heads, which otherwise sometimes hap- 

 pens through careless handling. 



Half barrels have been found convenient for packing and keeping 

 winter pears, and for sending them to market, packed as described 

 for apples. Pear-growers who send their crops to distant markets, 

 should pack them early enough to reach their destination before the 

 softening process has commenced. Large' losses have sometimes 

 occurred from bruising and other injury when summer or autumn 

 pears have been sent too late. 



Apples and pears for shipping have sometimes been packed in 

 charcoal dust, dry sand and at other times separately wrapped in 

 paper, in the same manner as oranges are shipped but they can be 

 shipped with as much success without anything with them, if only 

 managed with care in other respects. 



In shipping fruit, none but the very best should be sent ; all that 

 are small, imperfect, or the least bruised, should be rejected. 



Packing Grapes for Market. None but well grown and well 



