140 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



age and packing is much more tlian where barrels are used. 

 Much fancy fruit from the Western states is wrapped in paper 

 before it is packed, and is then put in the boxes in layers by 

 hand. Of course sucli fruit ships and keeps better than fruit not 

 so carefully handled. The box enables a better display to be 

 made of the fruit and supplies a handy package for the retailer. 



Methods of Packing. — There are two methods or styles of 

 placing apples in these boxes in general use, known as the 

 straigbt and diagonal packs. In the straight pack the apples are 

 ])laced in straight rows, both lengthwise and aci'oss the box. 

 The straight pack is not used where the diagonal can be used 

 as the apples are more apt to be bruised in pressing and putting 

 the cover on. 



There are various w^ays of arranging the apples in the box in 

 the straight pack as well as the other kinds. Some place the 

 apple on the side, others with the stem up, and others wifh the 

 stem down. Probably the best packs are those arranged with the 

 stems to the outside in the top and bottom layers. 



Tlie term tier is used to designate the number of rows across 

 the top and the number of rows deep. The number of rows 

 across times the number of rows deep times the number of tiers 

 long gives the number of apples in the box. The number of 

 tiers, of course, depends on the size of the apples. The up-to- 

 date packer now stamps eitber the number of tiers, or the num- 

 ber of apples contained in tire box on the outside so that the 

 buyer may know at a glance how many apples he has in the box. 



Diagonal Pack. — In the diagonal or diamond pack the rows 

 run diagonally with tbe edge of the box. Its advantage over 

 other packs is that it accommodates sizes that do not work 

 into the straight pack and also that in pressing the apples can 

 adjust themselves to the spaces between the apples in tbe adjoin- 

 ing tiers. Tbe diagonal pack contains the half tiers, such as 

 throe and one-half and four and one-balf. These allow an easy 

 pack for many apples that would not go in the straight pack. 



The diagonal pack is started by putting in two or three 

 apples in the lower left hand corner and then building the lower 

 layer from these. Experience is needed before one can do this 

 well. 



