MISCELLANEOUS. 183 



will hold from twenty to thirty pounds are of convenient 

 size, and the fruit will retain its flavor much better with 

 twenty pounds in a box than when there are only five pounds. 

 The boxes should be made so that they can be shut tight ; 

 if there should be need of ventilation, it can be given by 

 opening the box, but constant ventilation of them is only 

 another name for continual evaporation, which would cause 

 the fruit to shrivel and thus destroy its value. 



A cool and steady temperature should be maintained, 

 and if it could be kept between 35 and 40 there would 

 be but very little trouble in keeping the fruit, even if but 

 little care were given to the packing. Very few persons 

 have a room or cellar that can be kept so cool as 40 ; con- 

 sequently more care is necessary in gathering, packing, etc. 



A warm, damp atmosphere is very injurious, as it will 

 soon cause the grapes to rot ; but the presence of consid- 

 erable moisture will do no harm, provided the temperature 

 is low. 



There are various materials used in packing grapes, many 

 of which are good, while others are positively injurious. 

 Saw-dust is used in packing the Malaga grapes which are 

 so common in our markets ; but the flavor of the grapes is 

 always injured more or less by it, giving them a strong 

 woody taste. Cork-dust is far better than common saw- 

 dust ; but it can not be obtained except near cork manu- 

 factories, and perhaps not then to any amount. If any such 

 material is to be used, there is none better or more easily 

 procured than chaiF of rye, wheat, or oats Rice chaff 

 would probably be still better. 



When the grapes are gathered, bring them into a cool 

 room and spread them out upon a table or shelves, and let 

 them remain there for a few days until ah 1 surplus moisture 

 has passed off; then pack them away in the boxes, as fol- 

 lows : spread a thick sheet of paper on the bottom, then 

 lay on a layer of bunches, placing them close together ; 

 then another sheet of paper, and so on until the box is full. 



