PACKING SHEDS 281 



The permanence of the structure and the elaborateness of the 

 equipment will depend upon its location and the kind and volume 

 of products that are to be handled. For the handling of certain 

 crops, a temporary shed located at the edge of the field is all that 

 is required. Muskmelons and tomatoes grown as truck crops in 

 fields at considerable distance from the farm buildings are usually 

 packed in a temporary structure built for the purpose just before 

 the harvest begins. The essential features of such a structure 

 are a packing bench or table, ample light and a roof that does not 

 leak. It may or may not be boarded up at the back and sides. 

 If not boarded up, it is usually provided with a curtain which may 

 be shifted from one side to another as the day progresses. Often 

 a canvas wagon cover is used for this purpose. One of the simplest 

 forms of packing shed is shown in Fig. 167. A more complete 

 shed, though of a temporary nature, is shown in Fig. 168. A 

 sectional view and plan of the latter shed are presented in Fig. 169. 

 Such a shed may be built of any length desired, depending upon 

 the size of the crop to be handled. The one here illustrated is 

 twelve by sixteen feet, and will accommodate three packers in 

 handling a crop of melons or tomatoes. There is also sufficient 

 space for stacking two wagonloads of the packed product. 



For the sake of economy in the construction of a shed of this 

 kind, the posts are usually cut from the timber, if in a timber 

 country, so that a comparatively small amount of sawed lumber 

 is used in the frame. The posts are set deeply in the ground so 

 that they will retain their position without much bracing. 



For the construction of the shed here illustrated, besides 

 nine long posts for supporting the roof and twelve short ones 

 for the table and bench, the following bill of lumber would be 

 needed : 



4 ps. 2" X 4", 12 ft., for supporting roof. 

 4 ps. 2" X 4", 4' 8", for supporting packing table. 

 4 ps. 2" X 4", 2' 4", for supporting receiving bench. 

 24 boards 1" x 12", 12 ft., for roof, laid with 3-inch lap. 

 6 boards 1" x 12", 12 ft., for packing table and receiving bench. 

 6 boards 1" x 12", 12 ft., for boarding up south side. 



1 board 1" x 12", 12 ft., for partitions in packing table. 



2 boards 1" x 6", 12 ft., for sorting and packing shelves. 



1 board 1" x 6", 12 ft., for front wall of table. 



2 boards 1" x 6", 6 ft., for bracing ridgepole. 



The short two-by-four's for supporting the packing table and 

 receiving bench could be sawed from two pieces each fourteen 



