Handling the Crop 309 



willingness to cooperate among growers. (5) There 

 must be some uniformity in the character of the fruit 

 handled in order that there may be a common interest 

 among growers. 



The following are some of the advantages in the com- 

 munity packing-house plan: (1) There is a possibility of 

 a greater standardization of grades. Apples packed up 

 under a single management will be more uniform in grade 

 than if packed under the direction of a dozen or more indi- 

 viduals. (2) Competent help may be attracted by longer 

 periods of employment. (3) By combining capital it 

 becomes possible for the growers to build modern packing 

 plants and equip them with all the labor-saving devices 

 without incurring too great overhead expense. (4) It 

 becomes economical to provide storage space as an insur- 

 ance against loss. (5) A saving of 3 to 5 cents a box and 

 10 to 15 cents a barrel is ordinarily effected in handling 

 the crop, particularly if supplies are purchased in quan- 

 tities for the members. (6) Community trucks may be 

 employed economically in hauling fruit to the packing- 

 house. (7) The grower may give his entire attention to 

 the packing operation instead of devoting his efforts to 

 finding a packing crew. 



Methods of operating community packing-houses. 



In most instances the grower hauls his fruit in loose 

 boxes or barrels to the community shed where it retains 

 the grower's identity during the packing operation. The 

 cost of packing is pro rated by the barrel or box among 

 the contributing members. Sufficient fruit must be 

 handled to warrant the employment of a competent man- 

 ager. 



