292 THE APPLE 



Packing tables. The packing tables are a very important and 

 practical part of the grading outfit. They extend 6 feet from the 

 chute into which the fruit is delivered by the cups, and have a 

 separate section for each size of fruit. Each section is 3 feet wide 

 at the outer end, where the packer stands, which gives ample room 

 for four packers on each side of the machine and one or two at 

 the end table. 



Sizes and grades. The machine is designed to grade five sizes, 

 but a grading of only three sizes can be secured by the adjustment 

 of the pockets as before described. On the two- and four-column 

 machines color sorting can be done by the operator at the convey- 

 ers, by feeding the light-colored fruit into one conveyer and the 

 dark-colored into the other, without picking it up. Every part of 

 the machine which comes in contact with the fruit is well padded 

 with heavy felt, and the bottom of the hopper and the bottoms of 

 the tables are of canvas, so that there is no possibility of the fruit 

 being bruised or otherwise injured. 



Power. The machine is designed to be run by foot power, 

 assisted by the weight of the fruit, much on the principle of the 

 old-time water wheel. However, the machine can be arranged to 

 be operated by any other power. Many other grading machines 

 equally as valuable are in general use, and the orchardist is urged 

 to study them carefully before purchasing. 



