KEEPING QUALITIES OF GRAPES— PACKING— EXHIBITION 83 



PACKING GRAPES FOR FORWARDING 



There is another very important point in Grape growing, especially for 

 private use; this is the packing, for generally speaking large quantities are sent 

 away. The best methods of packing should therefore be carefully studied so 

 that the fruit may arrive at its destination in good shape. No matter how fine 

 the bunches are when cut oif" the vine, carelessness in packing will ruin them. 

 Fruit should be so packed that it will not move when the box is turned upside 

 down or roughh^ handled in transit. 



Boxes holding ten to twelve pounds of Grapes are better adapted for carrying 

 them in good condition than are larger ones. The best shape of box is one 

 broad enough to hold the fruit in one layer, with some soft material for the 

 bunches to rest upon. For some years we have been using a sea grass for that 

 purpose, and have found it very satisfactory, being clean, light and elastic. 

 Wrap each bunch separately in soft tissue paper and lay them snugly in the 

 box with the stems upward; they will fit in better this way and will also be more 

 convenient to lift out. Line the box with soft paper; this is to be folded over 

 the fruit. Then fill in any crevices with sea grass or other soft material, to 

 prevent the bunches from moving. Grapes packed in this way should be re- 

 ceived at their destination in good condition. 



Baskets may also be used and may be packed in the same way. A basket 

 holding ten to twelve pounds is better than one of greater bulk. When the 

 lid is down, the fruit should be snug enough so that it cannot move. Tie the 

 handles of the basket together in an upright position; this will prevent those 

 in charge of its transportation from placing any other weight on the basket. 

 I have sent away considerable fruit thus packed which arrived at its destination 

 in a satisfactory condition. There is nothing more discouraging than a report 

 of good fruit having arrived in poor condition, and this is quite as often due to 

 bad packing as to unnecessarily rough handling in transit. But if fruit is firmly 

 packed in soft and elastic material it should safely stand a reasonable amount 

 of handling. 



HANDLING GRAPES FOR EXHIBITION 



Grapes for exhibition purposes call for the true test of skill in packing. A 

 bunch of Grapes destined to grace an exhibition board must be without a blem- 

 ish. The bloom, or finish, which is the pride of the fruit man, can never be 

 replaced if once rubbed off. An outsider may touch a bunch and leave his 

 finger marks on it without realizing the disfigurement he is causing; therefore 

 the careful exhibitor will not trust his fruit into the hands of any one else if 

 he can possiblj' avoid it, but will keep close watch over it until the judges have 

 passed upon it. 



Hothouse Grapes are exhibited on stands made especially for that purpose; 

 these are usualh" covered with clean, white paper. The stand is in a slightly 

 slanting position so that the Grapes will show up to the best advantage. The 

 size of the stand should correspond to the weight of the bunches. The Grapes 



