11 



Stemmers or small shears should be used to cut the ends 

 from the long stems, so that they will not puncture the oiled 

 paper circle and will rest more evenly upon the face end. 

 This is sometimes omitted in strictly commercial work. The 

 face layer is put in stem end down, in concentric circles. 

 The outside or larger circle is placed first, of a uniform 

 sized apple which will just fill the circle snugly. Each con- 

 centric circle is placed in the same way. The center will 

 require one, two, three, four or six apples, varying in accord- 

 ance with the sizes of apples used. The next layer is placed 

 the same way by some growers, especially for their extra 

 fancy and exhibition barrels. Most commercial growers now 

 make the second layer by placing the heavy colored cheek 

 of the apples in the cavities formed between the apples of the 

 face layer. This method makes the barrel look much better 

 when opened. About a bushel of apples is next carefully 

 emptied upon these two face layers, before the barrel is 

 shaken at all. The barrel should be carefully shaken then, 

 and after each succeeding basket is put in, until it is full. 

 The shaking, or " racking " as it is called, tends to work the 

 apples down into all of the cavities. In this way a compact 

 package is secured and possibility of bruising is eliminated. 

 The height to which the barrel should be filled varies ac- 

 cording to varieties, and opinion on this point differs in 

 different localities,. It should be just high enough so that 

 when the head is pressed in all apples will be held firm, and 

 yet not so tight as to bruise them. The last layer should be 

 placed with stem ends uppermost. This makes it easier to 

 put the head in, and if by mistake the bottom should be 

 opened, it will present a much better appearance. A corru- 

 gated head is also used at the tail end as it helps to prevent 

 bruising when the tail is pressed in. It should be nailed in 

 place with six three-and-a-half-penny nails. It is advisable 

 also to nail liners to the tail end of the barrel. The barrel 

 is reversed, and if it is to be shipped a long distance the head 

 should also be nailed in a like manner as an added precau- 

 tion. The head of the barrel should be stenciled in accord- 

 ance with Section 5 of the Sulzer bill. 



