118 FOREST PRODUCTS 



years ago it was comparatively unimportant. The barrel has always 

 been the foremost container for marketing apples, but since the Apple 

 Growers' Congress in 1909 declared in favor of the barrel over the box 

 for the standard shipping package, the demand for barrels has had a 

 decided impetus. Again, the more recent movement for better protection 

 of foodstuffs and commodities in transit and marketing has called special 

 attention to the excellent qualities of the wooden package. Many other 

 outstanding advantages of the wooden barrel are economy in storage, 

 convenience in handling, less liability to loss in transit, better protection 

 from insects and rodents and from exposure to atmospheric conditions, 

 comparative cheapness and availability for secondary use. 



LAWS GOVERNING THE INDUSTRY 



Numerous attempts have been made to secure greater uniformity in 

 the specifications and holding capacity of barrels, especially those used for 

 agricultural products. Much progress has recently been made in this 

 direction. 



The United States Government has prescribed standard barrels for 

 apples by an act of Congress in 1912 of which the dimensions without 

 distention of its parts are as follows : 



Length of stave 28^ in. 

 Diameter of head 17! in. 

 Distance between heads 26 in. 

 Circumference of bilge 64 in. 



This represents practically 7056 cu. in. 



The statutes of the various states provide for the dimension of barrels 

 and casks used for various commodities. Section 188 of the Agricultural 

 Law of the State of New York requires that the capacity of fruit barrels 

 shall equal 108 qt., 12^ pk. or 6720 cu. in. dry measure, and shall be of 

 dimensions as follows: 



Diameter 17! in. 



Length of stave 28^ in. 



Bilge not less than 64 in. outside measurement. 



If the barrel is made straight up and down or without any bilge it shall 

 contain the same number of cubic inches as described in the foregoing. 

 Anyone manufacturing barrels for use in the sale of apples, pears or any 

 other fruit, must brand such barrels upon each end and upon the side 

 with conspicuous letters " short barrel." 



