92 The Fruit-Growers Guide-Book 



row there will be two fruits again, and be directly above 

 the ones in the second row. After the first layer is about 

 half filled in the fruit needs to be "drawn down" snugly 

 so as to give the box a little bulge at the side, but must 

 be done without bruising the fruit. The layer is then 

 completed. In placing the second layer in the box the 

 first row at the lower end will contain two fruits placed 

 over the spaces between the fruit in the lower layer. The 

 second row contains three fruits, and so on alternately 3 

 and 2 until the box is filled. 



Apples 



Apples for the commercial market are packed in fewer 

 styles of packages than any other kind of fruit. Barrels 

 holding approximately 100 quarts, and boxes holding a 

 bushel are the packages most extensively used. Some 

 trifling differences are made in the sizes of barrels by the 

 laws of the different states, but they are approximately 

 28J/2 inches long, with heads 17 J^ inches in diameter, and 

 64 inches in circumference at the bulge on the outside. 

 There is a slight difference made in the exact dimensions 

 of the bushel boxes, on account of the adaptability of 

 certain sizes to some sizes and shapes of apples. 



It takes but little skill to.pack a barrel of apples. A 

 little experience, combined with the careful sorting of the 

 fruit will enable any good workman to pack a barrel of 

 apples, for the reason that the fruit is not arranged in the 

 barrel in layers or rows, but the apples poured in and al- 

 lowed to lay in whatever position they will. 



In putting up the most fancy package of apples in bar- 

 rels it is best to line the barrel with white or manilla 

 paper, with a piece of lace paper over the face and a thick 

 pad between the fruit and the head to prevent the apples 

 from being bruised. . % 



A barrel ready for packing is placed in front of the 

 packer with the bottom end out and the head, or top end 

 down. A few well sorted apples are then arranged with 

 the stem ends down, so as to completely cover the head. 



