310 The Commercial Apple Industry 



An interesting plan has been evolved and is being oper- 

 ated successfully in certain parts of the West. Under 

 this method the grower's fruit loses its identity, first 

 being weighed and credit being given for a certain amount 

 of fruit by weight. A sample is taken representing 3 to 5 

 per cent of each load and unbiased inspectors grade out 

 the sample to determine what percentage will fall within 

 the different grades. In this way, the grower of high- 

 grade fruit is protected and credited for his superior 

 product. The two principal advantages of this plan are 

 that it saves about one-third of the storage space in the 

 packing-house since each grower's fruit does not have to 

 be packed by itself, and the growers know immediately into 

 what grades their fruit will pack out. The chief disad- 

 vantages are that much depends on the sample and the 

 fruit may not pack out according to tests which causes 

 dissatisfaction among members. The tendency is to 

 examine fruit too critically. 



Packing-house construction. 



Common storage plays such an important part in the 

 handling of the boxed apple crop that it should receive 

 separate, although necessarily brief, consideration in this 

 discussion. Very often and particularly under the com- 

 munity plan, the packing-house serves also as a common 

 storage. It is a common practice in the Northwest to 

 pack the fruit on the main floor and store in the basement. 

 Occasionally only a portion of the building is insulated, 

 the remainder being used solely for the packing opera- 

 tions. In some instances, the packing-house is entirely 

 separate but adjoining a common storage. 



In any event, it should be remembered that a room can- 



