379 
This lever when puwled and released strikes a bumper provided 
alongside, and gives to the rocking shoot a jar, which sends the 
fruit along. It must be remembered that no machine grades to 
colour or throws out rejects. 
Although a preliminary grading is done in the orchard when 
picking, this necessary operation is completed in the packing shed, 
and in the case of export apples the grading and wrapping pro- 
ceeds with the packing. 
If the bulk of the fruit on the bench is 214 inches, the packer 
starts on that size, and when that is exhausted, passes on to the 
next grade which happens to be most in evidence. 
When grading, sizes range upwards not downwards; thus:— 
A 2-inch apple is 2 inches up to 2% inches. 
A 2%4%-inch apple is 214 inches up to 244 inches. 
A 2%-inch apple is 214 inches up to 234 inches. 
A 234-inch apple is 234 inches up to 3 inches. 
A 3-inch apple is 3 inches up to 314 inches. 
Large sizes are not much in demand, and the fruit does not 
carry so well as the medium size, which are the best for export. 
A good, experienced packer will grade, wrap, and pack 10 
bushel cases of apples an hour and keep up the average. 
Strawberries, cherries, and such like fruit are best packed 
straight away into the small wooden punnets, and when thus filled 
they may be placed without further handling into strong crates. 
PackIne. 
Good fruit deserves good packing, and bad fruit will not sell 
without it. Every orchardist should be well imbued of that fact, 
and keep it well in mind. Anything that tends to give the buyer 
the idea that extra care has been used in the packing will pay. 
It is admitted on all hands that apart from detracting from 
the look of the contents, and bringing for first-class fruit second- 
class prices, the pernicious practice of using soiled, stained, second- 
hand packages often proves to be the means of unconsciously 
distributing destructive orchard pests. 
The Commonwealth as well as the State Regulations fortunately 
prohibit the use of second-hand fruit cases for packing fruit. 
The lower price goods packed in second-hand cases invariably 
feteh whenever compared with the same grade goods packed in new 
cases is in itself sufficient to stamp this class of package as costly 
to the grower, who often, moreover, is given cause to repent having 
used them when new blights and pests carried as spores, eggs, or 
larve in the cracks and crevices of the timber, invade his garden. 
