302 The Commercial Apple Industry 



the sizing machine. This obviates the necessity of lifting 

 the fruit in feeding the sizer. (8) In passing through 

 the different 'packing-house operations, the fruit should 

 continue in the same general direction. (9) Ample floor 

 space should be provided. Congestion greatly slows up 

 packing operations. (10) A building more nearly square 

 is better than a long narrow structure. (11) Building on 

 a hillside may permit fruit to be unloaded and packed on 

 the second floor. Packed fruit may then be stored on the 

 first floor and hauled out from the lower side of the build- 

 ing, and all fruit can be lowered to the basement by chutes 

 or reverse elevators where it can accumulate without in- 

 terfering with operations about the packing-table. 



Handling the western box apple crop 



The packing-house, whether it be a rude shelter or an 

 elaborately equipped plant, is a recognized necessity in 

 handling the boxed apple crop. More exact grading and 

 sorting are required for boxed apples and this labor may 

 be performed best in the centralized packing-house to 

 which the fruit is drawn from the orchard. As stated 

 above, common storage space is very often combined with 

 the packing-shed, particularly in the case of the commu- 

 nity packing-house. In such instances, the packing- 

 house serves a double purpose. It provides space not only 

 for the necessary packing-house equipment, but also for 

 storing a large portion of either the loose or packed fruit. 

 It is generally estimated that the packing-house should 

 have storage for about one-third of its total output. In 

 regions where car shortage is likely to occur, this is a 

 good form of insurance. 



There is a most decided drift to the community packing 



