408 



The Principles of Fruit-growing 



The subject of packing-houses cannot be treated spe- 

 cifically for each grower. Among the best types of packing- 

 houses are those used by the grape men, and there are two 

 distinct types of such houses in use in the grape regions. 

 One type is a combined packing- and storage-house, and 

 is used very largely where Catawbas are grown, and where 

 the grapes are often stored for some time before they are 

 marketed. The other type of house is that used in the 

 Concord regions, and which is a half-way station between 

 the field and the railway station, a shelter place for the 

 packing of the grapes, and is not used for the storage of 

 the fruit. 



One of the best of the storage type of packing-houses 

 (used for holding the fruit until whiter or later) may be 

 described as follows: 



It is built on a side hill, and the basement or cellar is used for 

 the storage of grapes, the first floor is used for packing, and the 

 second floor or attic for the storage of baskets, crates and the like. 

 This building measures 25 by 60 feet over all. The foundation 

 walls are 24 inches thick, and the cellar is provided with ample 



means of ventila- 

 tion by outside win- 

 dows, and also by 

 means of a chimney 

 that runs from near 

 the middle of the 

 cellar up through 

 the roof. The floor 

 is of earth. By 

 means of careful 

 attention to ventila- 

 tion, this cellar can 

 be kept to 50 or 

 below in September 

 and October, and is 

 frost-proof in win- 

 FIG. 175. A convenient packing-house. ter. The windows 



