278 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



grade. It is a question whether with this system of pack- 

 ing it is better to pack in three grades or in two. 



Fancy fruit must be of good size, free from worm-holes 

 or worm-stings or other defects, of good color, and good 

 shape. The standard of size generally given for the 

 different varieties are those found in the grading list 

 of the Grand Junction Fruit-growers Association, as 

 printed below. The choice grade is made up of fruit 

 larger than 2J inches in diameter, reasonably free from 

 worms or other blemishes. It is true that buyers seem 

 to find little fault with this method, but competition will 

 probably necessitate a more uniform method of grading 

 and a better system of packing. 



Boxes of different dimensions are used in the various 

 fruit sections. They are made of light pine, the ends of 

 J-inch, and the sides, tops, and bottoms of ^-inch material. 

 Material f of an inch in thickness is sometimes recom- 

 mended for the sides, as it prevents bulging. Boxes are 

 generally stacked and hauled on the side, and if the sides 

 are bulged there is a tendency to bruise the fruit. The 

 sides of the box are each a single piece, while the tops and 

 bottoms are generally made of two pieces. In making 

 up the box, the top is put on instead of the bottom and 

 is held with f X f inch cleats. These cleats mark the face 

 of the box; and the package is naturally opened on this 

 side, as the cleats facilitate opening. If the box were 

 faced on both sides, it might be well to cleat both top and 

 bottom. As a rule, where the jumble pack is used, the 

 box has inside dimensions of 11^ X 11 J x 18 inches and 

 should hold fifty pounds when packed. 



For the fancy grade the box is lined with paper. The 



