76 The Fruit-Growers Guide-Book 



CHAPTER IV 



Packing 



Packing in its broadest application consists of the oper- 

 ation of placing articles, goods, products or merchandise 

 into suitable parcels, baskets, boxes, cans, barrels or other 

 packages for safe transportation. In horticultural work 

 it applies especially to the preparation of fruits and vege- 

 tables for shipment. 



The approved method of packing fruits and vegetables 

 necessarily differs widely with the nature of the article 

 to be packed, and for the same product custom has estab- 

 lished different practices in different parts of the country. 

 Formerly it was the habit in many markets to return the 

 empty packages to the shipper so that they could be used 

 over and over again. With the vast increase in distant 

 shipments, due to improved transportation facilities, this 

 became impossible, and now cheap gift packages intended 

 to be used but once, are coming into favor, and in some 

 regions are used exclusively. This is by far the best prac- 

 tice, as it is a sanitary method, and assures a clean, neat 

 package for the product. 



While the shape, size and form of the package varies 

 widely for the same kind of product in different parts of 

 the country, some form of crate, barrel, box or basket 

 constitutes the commonest package for the ordinary fruits 

 or vegetables. These are modified to suit the particular 

 purpose. 



Modern Packages 



Modern packages are characterized by lightness, neat- 

 ness, cheapness and uniformity, and are of such shape as 



