122 MY VINEYARD. 



spring, a bass wood tree from eight to ten inches in diame- 

 ter, of which my woods afford an abundant supply, is 

 felled, the bark peeled off and sunk in the lake, (a running 

 stream is better,) so as to be entirely covered with water, 

 being f istened down with stones. In two to three weeks 

 the sappy and glutinous substances of the bark are soaked 

 out, so that it can be separated into the fine and delicate 

 layers of which it is composed. Xo material could be 

 better than this for the purpose of tying. \Yhen it can 

 not be obtained, any soft string or stout woolen yarn may 

 be used. 



Packing Fruit. — The boxes used in packing grapes for 

 shipping, are of different sizes, holding from five to twen- 

 ty-five pounds. They are sold according to their capacity, 

 usually at one cent a pound, a five-pound box costing five 

 cents, and so on for larger sizes. Establishments for their 

 manufacture are found in all the principal grape legions. 

 In packing, the top is first nailed on, and a sheet of thin, 

 white paj^er put in ; whole bunches of grapes are first put 

 in, being packed as closely as possible without jamming 

 them. The vacant places left, after putting in as many 

 whole bunches as the box will contain, are filled with 

 parts of bunches, and lastly with single grapes, so that all 

 the space is occupied. Another sheet of paper is now laid 

 on, and the bottom nailed down. By this means, when the 

 boxes are opened, only entire bunches are found at the top. 



