The Assorting of the Product 441 



the growing of the crop. The reader must not expect 

 this book to enter the field of cooperation, market asso- 

 ciations, transportation, refrigeration, cold storage, com- 

 mission and auction systems, food preservation, and the 

 like. 



1. GRADING AND PACKING 



The sorting and packing of a crop should begin in the 

 field. The better the crop is grown, the fewer will be the 

 culls and the less the labor of grading. 



In crops which are not to be carefully sorted into sizes 

 and packed by hand, as potatoes and many of the root 

 crops, the vegetables may be placed directly in the pack- 

 age in which the product is to be 

 taken to the market. Nothing is 

 better for the handling of heavy 

 products than a bushel box (Fig. 

 331) or the crate. Formerly 

 baskets of various sizes were used 



for this TlllTTinsP hnt the bn-jr or ^^''- Serviceable iushel tox. It 

 XOl wilt, purpObe, out Uie OOX or ,^ jg j^^^^^ square, and 8 inches 



crate is much better because it is ^'^''■ 

 cheaper, more durable and it stows better on the wagon 

 or in the store-house. One tier of boxes may be piled on 

 another, but this is impossible with baskets unless one 

 resorts to expensive staging. 



In handling the products in the field and in the store- 

 house, it is important that they be kept dry and cool. 

 Over-ripeness and decay are then prevented. They should 

 be put on the market or in storage quickly, before they 

 have been subjected to unfavorable conditions of weather 

 or to accidents. Some vegetables, as onions, are not in- 



