76 FRUIT HARVESTING, STORING, MARKETING 



same whether flour barrels are bought or stock secured 

 in the knock-down and put up by a cooper. 



As has already been remarked, empty flour barrels 

 are often used for packing apples. When strong, 

 fresh barrels are chosen and thoroughly cleaned there 

 is little or no objection to their use ; but the least 

 carelessness in this respect brings loss to the grower. 

 When a buyer sees an old, stained, battered barrel he 

 immediately rates the contents as poor, and refuses to 



FIG. l8 — CARDBOARD BARREL HEAD LININGS 



pay anything but the minimum price. When a barrel 

 is opened and the apples are found half covered with 

 the flour which was needlessly left clinging in the 

 chimes, the lot is once more relegated to the second 

 class. It is the simplest matter in the world to lose 

 twice the price of a good barrel in this way. Good 

 fruit deserves a good package, and poor fruit will not 

 sell without it. 



Certain small accessories are sometimes used with 

 the apple barrel, though there is no uniformity in this 

 matter. The most usual device is a paper reinforce- 

 ment for the head, which protects the fruit somewhat 

 from bruising when the head is pressed in and \f?hich 



