THE GRAPE VINE. 113 



of the paper is supposed to come in contact with the 

 bunch at fewer points than when wrapped up in 

 more flexible pape*", and on that account to better 

 preserve the bloom. There is, however, at the same 

 time, room left for the oscillation of those berries not 

 in immediate contact with the paper, and this is 

 objectionable. In sending grapes to a distance I 

 have never adopted this mode of packing, but have 

 either wrapped each bunch in a sheet of fine tissue- 

 paper, and packed them on a firm bed of paper- 

 shavings as close as they would lie, with just suf- 

 ficient wadding between each to fill up the irregu- 

 larities of the outline of the bunches. When the 

 box is thus filled, a sheet of wadding is spread 

 regularly over the bunches, and over all a layer of 

 paper-shavings ; so that when the lid is shut down 

 they are subject to as much pressure as prevents 

 their moving. At other times, when only sending 

 a few bunches in one compartment of a box, I have 

 spread a sheet of paper over the shavings in the 

 bottom of the box, and laid all the bunches as nicely 

 fitted into each other as possible on it, then put 

 another sheet of tissue-paper over them, then some 

 cotton-wadding, finishing off with a layer of paper- 

 shavings. In this way I have always found them 

 go quite safely. When a quantity has to be sent in 

 one box it should be divided into compartments, so 

 that when the box happens to be set down standing 

 on end or side, the grapes at the lower part of it 

 cannot possibly be subject to much pressure from the 

 top end of the box. I do not know of any way of 

 sending them to preserve their bloom, for unless some 

 person is sent with the box there must be packing 

 material on the upper side of the grapes. 



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