HARVESTING AND MARKETING 165 



writer feels contident lliat something" of tliis kind 

 will eventually find a place in the market, but noth- 

 ing yet has been accomplished which can be given 

 general recommendation. 



The bushel basket has been used to some extent, 

 especially in the Chicago market, for apples, and has 

 some advantages. It is easy to handle and pleases the 

 customer. Such bushel baskets with covers cost about 

 $12 a hundred. Half-bushel baskets of the same form 

 cost from $10 to $11 a hundred. 



Px\CKING APPLES 



A man who packs apples should have some experi- 

 ence, and the judgment born of it, in order to do his 

 work well. Next to the man who grades the fruit, 

 the one who packs it has the greatest responsibility. 

 ]\Iany a sale of good fruit has been spoiled by poor 

 packing. When fruit is to be shipped some distance, 

 as across the ocean, the packing must be irreproach- 

 able. If barrels are poorly packed the fruit works 

 loose, becomes bruised, and in many instances quite 

 worthless. 



In packing a barrel with apples the barrel is placed 

 on its head with the bottom out. Some good clean 

 apples are put in for "facers." It is best to pour in 20 

 to 30 such apples at the start — just about enough to 

 cover the head. The packer then places these in 

 even circular rows, beginning around the outside and 

 working in, setting each specimen with the stem 

 down. It is important to see that the apples in this 

 first tier — the facers — fit snugly together. Then a 

 second tier is put on, facing stems down like the first. 

 Now the real filling of the barrel begins. The sorted 



