PACKING FEUITS FOR ROAD OR RAIL. 



371 



fruit, and at a conference of fruit-growers in 

 Auckland, New Zealand, the following conclu- 

 sions were arrived at: — 



" The ideal shaped package for fruit is one of 

 cubic form, the fruit being thus, whichever way 

 the package stands, always subject to the same 

 pressure. Bearing this principle in mind, the 

 use of a case is proposed consisting of two 



cubes, each llxllxll inches inside measure- 

 ment, with a total capacity of 2662 cubic 

 inches, the external dimensions of which would 

 be 12 x 12 x 24 inches, and would stack in any 

 manner exactly 20 to the shipping ton of 

 40 cubic feet, such case to be provided with 

 a central division of J-inch wood, ends of f -inch, 

 and sides of ^-inch timber, or thinner; the sub- 



Fig. 1136.— Grapes in handle-basket, hooped for 

 covering with paper. 



Fig. 1137.— Tomatoes in handle-basket, with 

 paper only. 



division of the same to be 11 x 5 J x 22 J inches, 



93 



99 



capacity 1331 cubic inches, and 11 

 inches, capacity 665 cubic inches, both with 

 a central J-inch division. In the full -sized 

 case this bi-cubic form would minimize heat- 

 ing and bruising of fruit, consequent on one 

 or more fruits decaying, therefore loosing pack- 

 ing. Laid down in any way, the bottom layer 

 of Apples or Oranges would have to bear only 

 8 or 9 inches of fruit - pressure, as against 

 15 inches in Tasmanian and 17 inches in Cali- 

 fornian cases. Whichever side were opened 

 would display a broad array of fruit. Only 

 one breadth of stuff (11 inches) need be used, 

 which could be cut from waste, effecting a 

 saving in the timber and in the time required 

 in manipulating lesser widths, also in nails and 

 time consumed in driving them; further, in 



time and material taken in making the three 

 additional cases required to hold a ton of fruit 

 according to Tasmanian dimensions. If neces- 

 sary, 5 J -inch -wide timber could be used in 

 making both full and half-sized cases, the ends 

 of the full-sized cases being held together by 

 metallic dowels. The depth of the half -case 

 (5 h inches) closely approaches the depth 

 (5| inches) of the Californian fresh Peach, 

 Plum, and Apricot package, and their Grape 

 case of 5 inches in depth. The depth of the 

 quarter-case of 12J inches varies but a quarter 

 of an inch from the standard Californian 

 Cherry-box, with a depth of 3 inches, and 

 would be found very suitable for packing the 

 more tender berries." 



Baskets. — A well-made basket of the best 

 thoroughly seasoned Willows is one of the most 



