402 



The Principles of Fruit-growing 



not. Layer papers are also used, commonly one sheet on the bottom 

 and one on the top, inside the hning paper. 



Wrapping. — Most growers in the West wrap every apple. To 

 wrap the fruit, the packer stands at the table so that he can pick up 

 an apple with one hand and place it in the box with the other. The 

 wrapping paper is held in a hod which hangs on the side of the box. 



(Shown in Fig. 172). To 

 pick up a sheet of wrap- 

 ping paper easily, the 

 packer wears a rubber stall 

 on the thumb or middle 

 finger. These rubber stalls 

 can be purchased at 

 almost any drug - store. 

 With the left hand the 

 packer reaches for a sheet 

 of paper; at the same 

 time with the right hand 

 he picks up an apple. The 

 apple is thrown gently 

 into the center of the 

 paper, which is held in 

 the pahn of the left hand. 

 With the right hand the 

 packer draws in the comers 

 of the paper, and then, 

 with a slight rolling 

 motion, completes the 

 wrapping, and in so doing 

 leaves the apple in the 

 left hand in the proper 

 position to pack in the 

 box. The illustrations (Fig. 171) show successive steps in the 

 operation. The operation, however, being an individual matter, 

 will differ somewhat v,dth each packer. In every case the object 

 should be to make a neat and attractive wrap, and do it quickly. 



Packing-table. — A convenient packing-table can be easily built 

 by any grower. A good type is shown in Fig. 172. The bed of the 

 table is 3 by 4 feet, covered by a double layer of canvas. In order 

 to enable the packer to shake off quickly any dirt or leaves whicii 



Fig. 171. Successive stages in the wrapping 

 of an apple. 



