134 



Barrel Packing. 



INIanj' different types of tables are in use for sorting apples 

 for barrel packing. The most common table is called the 

 end-delivery table, and is a very good table for use when one 

 is careful not to handle the apples roughly. The dimensions 

 are as follows: Length, 7 feet; width at back, 3| feet; height 

 at front, 32 inches; height at back, 36 inches; height of side 

 boards, 6 inches. 



Spaces are left between the boards in the bottom of the 

 table for the dirt and leaves to sift through. The boards 

 must be of a soft wood and smoothed off, in order not to 

 injure the fruit. The back of the table is purposely made 5 

 or 6 inches higher in order that the apples may roll down 

 toward the front. 



It is necessary to have three men working at such a table 

 to get the best results. An upturned barrel is placed at the 

 end of the table. On this is placed a basket for a certain 

 grade, — the grade which is running the smallest. A man 

 stands at the side of the table and sorts. He has one or two 

 upturned barrels beside him which hold the baskets for other 

 grades. The grade which composes the bulk of the apples is 

 allowed to run down the table into the barrel. The third 

 man in the crew knocks the tail end out of the barrels, picks 

 out the facer apples, puts them into the barrels and empties 

 the baskets of the two sorters into their proper barrels. Three 

 men working in a crew in such manner will average about 40 

 to 45 barrels per day. One extra man can head up and stencil 

 all the barrels put up by thr^e such crews. 



A heavier table is often used in packing-house work. It is 

 9 feet long, 6 feet wide and 33 inches high in front, with the 

 table running lengthwise. The back of the table is 38 inches 

 high and the side 8 inches high. The bottom is slatted, as in 

 the end-delivery table. Three men are needed in the sorting 

 crew, as at the other table. The only advantage of this 

 table is the fact that more field barrels can be emptied upon 

 it at one time. 



The actual packing of the barrel consists in placing a cor- 



