406 The Principles of Fruit- growing. 



as our definition requires will do well to designate 

 the first grade by some special name or mark, as 

 "Selected," "First Choice," and the like, in order to 

 distinguish it from the common type of so-called 

 first-class fruit. In such thorough sorting, four 

 grades are often necessary, in order to properly pre- 

 sent the fruit to the various types of consumers. It 

 should be remarked, however, that the better the 

 fruit as it hangs on the tree or vine, the fewer will 

 be the grades in the packing -house. 



The packing of fruit, therefore, comprises two 

 rather distinct elements, the sorting or grading 

 (which has now been considered), and the placing 

 of the fruits in the final receptacles, or packing 

 proper, to which we now proceed. 



How to pack. The method of packing must de- 

 pend very greatly upon the market which is to be 

 reached, upon the quality of the fruit, and upon the 

 package which is to be used. Ordinarily, women are 

 better fruit -packers than men, especially for the deli- 

 cate fruits, like peaches, the berries and grapes. 

 Each individual fruit or cluster should be placed in 

 the package separately and by hand. This is em- 

 phatically true of all the tender and perishable des- 

 sert fruits. The specimens are ordinarily laid in con- 

 centric rows, the first row being placed on the. out- 

 side of the bottom of the basket, and other cir- 

 cles filling in the layer until it is full. Other tiers 

 are then placed in the same way. The top layer 

 is placed with special care, the stems of the fruits 

 being all laid one way, and the same side of the 



