446 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Packing. — In the broad sense, packing refers to all of the 

 operations incident to preparing and preserving poultry for 

 use as food. In a more restricted sense, it refers to wrapping 

 it or placing it in suitable packages for shipment or storage. 



Heretofore barrels have been used almost entirely for 

 packing poultry. For the better grades, boxes are now almost 

 wholly used. These are generally made from what is known 

 as whitewood. Pine is cheaper, but it is likely to impart 

 a piney flavor to the poultry if it remains long in the box. 

 The boxes may be purchased knocked down (K. D.). The 

 lumber is sawed to the exact size desired and comes in bun- 

 dles of 25 parts each. Special cement-coated 5d or 6d box 

 nails are used in making up the boxes, as ordinary nails 

 rust if the box is placed in a refrigerator. 



At present, in order to obtain the highest price and sell 

 to the best advantage, all classes and grades of poultry, 

 with the exception of culls unworthy to be graded, torn 

 birds, and old roosters which are packed in barrels, should 

 be packed one dozen to the box. Care should be taken not 

 to put the birds into the boxes too loosely; that is, the box 

 should not be too large. It is better to crowd the birds into 

 the boxes, for when they fit snugly they look plumper when 

 the box is opened. 



There are very many styles of packing poultry, almost 

 as many as there are different lines of trade. The following 

 standard styles are taken from the "Poultry Packers' 

 Guide:"! 



1. Standard Broiler. — Wrap heads; line box with parch- 

 ment paper. Pack one dozen birds to the box, six birds on 

 each side with feet extended past the centre of the box. The 

 breasts should be up, heads and feet hidden. The head is 

 packed under and to the side of the bird it belongs to, and the 

 feet crossed with those of the opposite bird, and tucked under 

 the opposite bird. Be careful not to draw out the legs too far 

 so that the bird will lose its plump appearance. 



2. Standard Export. — Pack in single layer boxes. Line 

 the boxes with parchment paper. Heads not wrapped. Pack 



' Pool Publishing Company, Mason City, Iowa. 



