34 



Cageots are often used for piling fleins. As accessory packing 

 materials paper, saw-dust, powdered cork and turf are employed. 



The packings most be light and resistant, protecting the fruit, 

 and at the same time allowing the air to circulate so as to keep 

 the temperature down. Fruits must be carefully selected and per- 

 fectly sound and packed so as to avoid shaking. 



Strawberries. Strawberries must be packed in fleins four to six 

 in a cageot. Sorgho fleins must be preferred on account of their 

 low price which permits the loss of the fleins. 



Cherries. At the beginning of the season panniers are used ; 

 later on, when greater quantities are shipped, cherries are shipped 

 in sieves. 



Prunes. The same shipping methods are adopted for primes. 



Peaches. Fancy peaches are shipped in little boxes containing 

 from 8 to 12 peaches each. Common peaches are shipped in 

 sieves and "cageots " of 10 Kg. each and are carefully packed. 



Apricots. The same shipping methods are used for apricots. 



Pears. Pears are shipped with non returnable packings. Little 

 boxes are used containing from one to two layers of pears. Com- 

 mon pears are shipped in cageots of two or three layers carefully 

 separated. 



Tomatoes. Tomatoes are shipped in cageots and panniers. 



In Vaucluse panniers of 15 Kg. of tomatoes are used. 



Simple Method proposed for Retaining Freshness in Fruit. 



Monthly Consular and Trade Reports, Washington, March 

 1909, N. 342, p. in. 



" U. S. Consul Maxwell Blake, of Dunfermline, makes the follo- 

 wing report on simple methods used in Great Britain to keep fruit 

 and eggs fresh: 



A correspondent in Stirlingshire writes me that he has recently 

 conducted some successful experiments in reference to the packing 

 of fruit for transit, without the aid of refrigeration ; his method 

 being simply to pluck the fruit when the sun is high so as to avoid 

 all adhering dampness, and immediately pack in prepared cases 

 containing granulated sugar. Care must be taken that the sugar 

 utilized for the purpose is also quite devoid of moisture and the 

 cases should be so constructed as. to be as nearly as possible im- 

 pervious to atmospheric vapors. Both the sugar and the cases, as 

 may be inferred, should be designed for and admit of constant re-use. 



