366 



THE GAKDENEK'S ASSISTANT. 



economy of labour. Even on the largest scale 

 packing-houses need not be elaborate, ornate, 

 or expensive. Sufficient space for the due per- 

 formance of the work, careful consideration of 

 the arrangements to facilitate this to the utmost, 

 and substantiality are the chief considerations. 

 Buildings of this kind can be constructed as 

 separate erections or as adjuncts to other struc- 

 tures; in the latter case it is often an advantage 

 to have the packing department as a portion of 

 the fruit storage, though that may be subject 



to some inconveniences where large quantities 

 of fruits have to be dealt with quickly. 



A ground-plan of a simple, useful form of 

 packing-house, the size of which can be adapted 

 to any requirements, is shown in fig. 1132. It 

 is rectangular in form, running from east to 

 west, the south side being of bricks, boards, or 

 corrugated iron as desired, and the north side 

 glazed from about 3 feet from the ground- 

 level up to the eaves. This can be done more 

 cheaply than having a series of windows, and it 



DOUBLE DOOR 



DOUBLE DOOR 







UJ 



J 



CO 



< 



1- 



O 



z 



o 

 < 



Q. 









— •- — «- •- •- 



VERANDAH ON PILLARS 



o o 1 



PACKING TABLE 



MAIN BUILDING 



(OPEN EA'ST AND WEST) 



PACKING TABLE 



VERANDAH ON PILLARS 



Scale: 77: 1 inch « 6 feet 



Fig. 1132.— Ground-plan of Fruit-packing House. 



North side: glazed or with windows. South side: wall, 



boards, or corrugated iron. 



is important to provide for a free admission of 

 light. The eaves should be not less than 7 

 feet from the ground and the roof may be either 

 in the form of a lean-to at a low angle or as a 

 span, the former being convenient when there 

 is another building against which it can be 

 pitched, and the latter being suitable for 

 separate buildings. The roof can be formed of 

 slates, tiles, or corrugated iron, or boarded and 

 tarred, or covered with felt, but it must be 

 waterproof. Where there is a sufficiently high 

 wall, with a north aspect, the whole structure 

 can be glazed and applied to other purposes 

 when not required for packing, which in the 

 case of the fruit trade generally is mainly 

 confined to the summer and early autumn 

 months. 



There should be a door space of at least 6 

 feet width at each end, double doors 3 feet 

 wide being convenient, and facing each other as 



4- ♦- — i 



Scale; rfp i inch =" L2 feet. 

 Fig. 1133.— Ground-plan of Fruit-packing House. 



shown in the plan. This provides a clear gang- 

 way for the gatherers to bring in the fruit to 

 the sorters and packers, and to pass out with 

 the empty baskets without interfering with 

 each other. The packing-table should be placed 

 just clear of the gangway, the packers being on 

 the one side only, facing the path, so that the 

 fruits can be placed upon the table immediately 

 at their command. As the packages are filled 

 they can be passed on to be weighed, nailed or 

 tied down, and stacked ready for removal. 



Another simple form of packing- house is 

 shown in the plan (fig. 1133). This is a square, 

 two sides being open, the roof supported on 

 pillars, and a verandah extending beyond this 

 to serve as temporary dry storage for empty 

 baskets or the completed packages. Two tables 

 can well be used in such a building, placed 

 transversely, the packers being supplied with 

 the fruits from the open sides. In such a 



