SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 155; 



pack takes either 45 or 54 apples to the hox ; the four-tier 

 takes 96, 112, 128 or 144; and the five-tier 200 or 250. 



One of the good features about all styles of packing in 

 boxes is that the exact number of apples in each box is known, 

 and when stenciled on the outside, as it should be, gives the 

 consumer a valuable bit of information. The diagonal pack 

 is used for sizes intermediate between those adajjted to the 

 straight pack, and should l)e used whenever possible in order 

 to avoid bruising of the fruit. 



Onlv two kinds of diagonal pack are in common use, the 

 33/2. tier and the A-]^ tier, again named from the number of^ 

 apples required to reach across the lx)x. In the 3^/2 tier style,. 

 64, 72 or 80 apples are required to the box; in the 4^2 tier,. 

 150 or 175 are necessary. 



Before packing apples in any style, they must be rather 

 closely graded as to size, since it is dif^cult to put up a good 

 pack if all the apples in a box are not very nearly of the same 

 size. Packers of some experience are able to select very 

 rapidly from a table apples of the proper size ; but unless they 

 are expert, the apples should be carefully graded before being 

 placed upon the packing table. In any case, not more than 

 two sizes of apples should be upon the table at one time. 

 Otherwise there is too much pawing over of the fruit. At 

 best, bruises will wear upon the fruit in time, and all the fruit 

 should be packed off the table at least once in every two 

 hours. 



The table you see here is one of the most convenient tliat 

 can be made. As you see, it is very simple, being nothing 

 but a 3 X 4 foot frame of 6-inch boards supported by 2 x 4's 

 for legs. There is no top to the table except the canvas, 

 which vou see is large enough to cover the table with a double 

 thickness. The lower thickness is tacked securely to the 

 frame so as to allow a sag of about six inches, and the upper 

 thickness is then doubled back over it. The latter can thus 

 be easily raised, and any litter which accumulates can be 

 shaken off. The ends of the table, you notice, are allowed 

 to project about fifteen inches so as to provide a support for 

 the box while it is being packed, and a board nailed, or better 



