PACKING APPLES IN BOXES 



273 



of the first layer; that is, this second layer is started with two 

 apples instead of three. This brings each apple of the second 

 layer over a space of the layer below, instead of its resting 

 directly upon an apple of that layer, as in the "straight" pack. 

 There is, therefore, considerable "give" to this pack, and con- 

 sequently much less bruising of the fruit. 



The two-two pack is started by placing an apple in the lower 

 right-hand corner and a second one in the middle of the space 

 remaining. The next two ap- , 

 pies are placed in the spaces 

 left by the first two, and so on 

 (Figs. 135 and 136). 



Layer paper may or may 

 not be used in box packing. 

 When to use it is a point that 

 can be learned only by experi- 

 ence. It is used with certain 

 sizes and shapes of apples in 

 order to bring them high 

 enough to get the required 

 firmness or compactness in 

 the box. 



The bulge or swell is a cru- 

 cial matter in box packing. 

 The apples must be put into 

 the box in such a way that 

 when the top is put on and 

 nailed down, both the top 

 and bottom of the box are 

 pressed out in the middle, giving a bulge. It is the pressure 

 exerted by this bulge in the top and bottom boards which keeps 

 the apples tight in the box. Of course the bulge is produced by 

 having the mass or body of apples in the box thicker in the 

 middle than it is at the ends. Different packers secure this 

 bulge in different ways, but the three principal methods seem to 

 be as follows: First, pack the apples a little tighter in the 

 central part of each layer than they are at the ends. In this 

 18 



Fia. 140. A western type of box press. 



