Preparation for Market 319 



Florida, on August 14-15, 1918, standard containers 

 were adopted for a number of commodities, including 

 a standard crate for sweet potatoes. As this package 

 was recommended by the Bureau of Markets, United 

 States Department of Agriculture, and is representative 

 of the general type of rectangular crate now on the 

 market, the following specifications are given : 



"Specifications of Standard Crate. 



Dimensions : 12 X 12 X 15 inches inside nieasurement. 



Capacity: 2160 cubic inches. 



Heads : Two heads, solid (12 X 12 inches), not less than 

 l%6 i'lch thick, made in one or t*o pieces stapled together, 

 or panel heads made of head sticks not less than i%g inches 

 thick and 1% inches wide. 



Panels : Two end panels made of one piece not less than 

 %e inches thick, securely nailed to head sticks with not less 

 than 4 ITo. 16 gauge % inch wire nails, top and bottom, 

 and not less than 3 No. 16 gauge % inch wire nails across 

 the sides (total ten nails). The veneer may be stapled with 8 

 double pointed staples % inch long made from No. 18 gauge 

 wire. 



Slats (Top, sides and bottom) : Twelve slats, three each 

 on top, bottom and sides, not less than 3^2 inches wide, V4 

 inch thick and 17 inches long, stapled together with cross 

 cleats at each end, each %6 inches thick and 1% inches 

 wide, using No. 20 gauge wire. 



Making up: Top, sides and bottom must be securely 

 nailed with not less than six cement coated 4d nails in each 

 end, two in each slat. 



Wood: Veneer or sawed. To be of seasoned pine or 

 gum or wood of equal strength, free from injurious knots. 



Note : When sweet potatoes are shipped in this crate, the 

 slats must be 3 inches wide." • 



Various other crates are on the market which indus- 

 trial manufacturers and growers claim to have special 

 merit. Figs. 37 and 38 show a type of folding crate 



