MARKETING EASTERN GRAPES. 11 



went into effect, the irregularities of the packages in use were detri- 

 mental to the industry. 1 



The tray, or lug box, has been one of the most-used containers, 

 but its popularity is on the wane. As it is a low, narrow, open, rough 

 box, holding 25 to 35 pounds of fruit, it is a very satisfactory con- 

 tainer for use in the vineyard, when fruit is picked into it direct 

 from the vines. The tray is in general use for bulk shipments. 

 However, for any market where the appearance and condition of the 

 fruit affects its sale, this package should never be used, as it is unat- 

 tractive in appearance and often brings the fruit to market in a 

 bruised condition. 



The " gift case " is an important container on the New York mar- 

 ket, but is seldom used outside of the Hudson River Valley. It is 

 a small case or crate containing eight 2-quart baskets, separated into 

 2 tiers of 4 each. The grapes are covered with white transparent 

 paper, and the tiers are separated by a thin board. After the con- 

 tents are disposed of this case is not returned, and the name " gift 

 case " was adopted to distinguish it from the tray or lug, which is 

 called " return crate " on this market. 



Practically all long-distance shipments are made in Climax bas- 

 kets, but in most of the large markets of the country local grapes 

 may be found, which have been either hauled to market or shipped 

 in less than carload lots, in- almost every conceivable type of con- 

 tainer. 



Market baskets are of three general kinds — the diamond weave, 

 the square weave, and the veneer. As a class they rank next in im- 

 portance after the Climax type. The sizes are very numerous, 8, 9„ 

 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and a few 16 quart baskets being found. The 

 8-quart or quarter-bushel basket, the 14 and 15 quart or short 2-peck 

 basket (half-bushel basket), and the short one-third bushel basket, 

 holding between 10 and 11 quarts, are found most frequently. It 



•As the Climax baskets are of so much importance to the industry in the East the fol- 

 lowing paragraphs are quoted from the standard container Act (39 TJ. S. Statutes at Large, 

 p. 673). See also United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Secretary Circular 

 No. 76 : Rules and Regulations * * * under the United States standard container Act 

 of August 31, 1916. 



(a) The standard two-quart Climax basket shall be of the following dimensions : 

 Length of bottom piece, nine and one-half inches ; width of bottom piece, three and one- 

 half Inches; thickness of bottom piece, three-eighths of an inch ; height of basket, three and 

 seven-eighths inches, outside measurement ; top of basket, length eleven inches and width 

 five inches, outside measurement. Basket to have a cover five by eleven inches, when a 

 cover is used. 



(6) The standard four-quart Climax basket shall be of the following dimensions: 

 Length of bottom piece, twelve inches ; width of bottom piece, four and one-half inches ; 

 thickness of bottom piece, three-eighths of an inch ; height of basket, four and eleven- 

 sixteenths inches, outside measurements; top of basket, length fourteen inches, width six 

 and one-fourth inches, outside measurement. Basket to have cover six and one-fourth 

 inches by fourteen inches, when cover is used. 



(c) The standard twelve-quart Climax basket shall be of the following dimensions : 

 Length of bottom piece, sixteen inches ; width of bottom piece, six and one-half inches ; 

 thickness of bottom piece, seven-sixteenths of an inch ; height of basket, seven and one- 

 sixteenth inches, outside measurements ; top of basket, length nineteen inches, width nine 

 inches, outside measurements. Basket to have cover nine inches by nineteen inches, when 

 cover is used. 



