410 



The Principles of Fruit-growing 



room. In the rear of this is a store-room, E, for the grapes. 

 The half-story above is used for baskets and crates, and 

 these are delivered into the packing-room by a shute. 

 This building will accommodate ten packers, and will 

 easily handle the grapes from fifty acres. 



In the packing of grapes, the greatest care is required 

 to keep the fruit clean and fresh, to prevent the bunches 



from being broken, 

 and to preserve the 

 bloom. It is essen- 

 tial that the house 

 should be kept 

 thoroughly clean 

 and sweet at all 

 times. It is impor- 

 tant that the storage- 

 room for the baskets 

 and crates be dry 

 and airy, so that the 

 baskets may not 

 become moldy or 

 musty, and also well darkened to prevent the baskets 

 from coloring. 



In Fig. 177 is shown a grape packing-room. The 

 picking-trays are set before the packers upon an inclined 

 table, and the packer handles the grapes from this tray 

 into a basket that she places at her left. When the basket 

 is filled, it is placed upon a flat ledge in front of her 

 and is taken off by an attendant, who places the baskets on 

 a truck and rolls them into the back room, from which they 

 are delivered to the wagon. Empty baskets are stored 

 upon the high shelf, and these are replenished by an 

 attendant, as necessary. When the tray is empty, it is 



FiQ. 177. Sorting and packing grapes. 



