374 



THE GAEDENEE'S ASSISTANT. 



in the first two or three layers are carefully 

 packed by hand at the bottom of the barrel 

 stalk downwards, and again when the top is 

 nearly reached the last two or three layers are 

 packed stalk upwards. It does not matter, 

 therefore, which end of the barrel is opened — 

 the Apples exposed are all "faced". This is 

 not necessarily a cover for dishonesty, as both 

 in Canada and in the United States stringent 

 rules are now in force respecting this matter, 

 though the former have been more lately brought 

 into operation. 



It is usual also to fill the barrel about an inch 

 above the head, which is then put on and 

 brought down to its right level by pressure, 

 either applied by a lever arrangement or by a 

 screw somewhat like letter-book screws, but the 

 former is preferred. The pressure has to be 

 applied with care, or the fruit is liable to be 

 damaged, but, properly done, it is found to give 

 the best results in the safe carriage of the fruit. 

 Sometimes the heads of the barrels are filled up 

 with a cushion of paper, which obviates the 

 necessity for leaving the Apples above the level 

 for compression, the paper serving the purpose 

 with less risk. 



Bags. — These are generally employed for 

 nuts, such as walnuts prepared for use, and 

 chestnuts. They are also occasionally used for 

 inferior Apples, but it is a great mistake, as in 

 no way does the fruit suffer so much in the 

 course of rail journeys. Commonly when the 

 fruit is turned out it is absolutely unsaleable. 



Packing Materials. — In the best packing, im- 

 portant aid is afforded by the choice of good 

 materials for rendering the fruits firm in the 

 cases employed, or in protecting them from 

 injury by external means. For all choice fruits 

 the best material yet introduced is the finest, | 

 white, and odourless brands of wood wool. 

 These can be purchased at about 18s. per cwt., 

 and at this rate half a pound of the substance, 

 costing Id., will suffice for a large box or basket 

 of fruit. It can be used as a basal layer upon 

 which to place the fruit, and it is equally useful 

 for arranging between such individual fruits 

 as choice Dessert Apples or Pears. As a final 

 layer before the package is closed it is specially 

 adapted, as, owing to its elastic nature, it can 

 be pressed down firmly on to the fruit without 

 injury. When using it the dust should always 

 be shaken out first, and very delicate fruits, or 

 those with any exudation or bloom on the skin, 

 should be carefully wrapped in soft white tissue- 

 paper and not allowed to come in direct contact 

 with it. The commoner and coarser kinds fre- 



quently possess a rather penetrating odour, and 

 must be used with judgment, or the aroma of 

 Dessert Apples and Pears is easily spoiled. If 

 the wool be exposed to the open air or sun for 

 a day or two this objection is much reduced. 



Cotton wadding is still very useful for some 

 fruits, though the improvement in the last- 

 named material has decreased the demand for 

 this. Folded with the smooth or skin side out- 

 wards (i.e. next to the fruit) it is commonly em- 

 ployed for wrapping round Peaches, Apricots, 

 and the best Plums after these have been en- 

 closed in tissue-paper. It is also serviceable as 

 a basal layer, to be covered with paper, on which 

 to place fruits of a choice character. It is, 

 however, very absorptive of moisture, and soon 

 causes undue heating. 



Dry moss, thoroughly cleaned and sweet, is 

 useful when only small quantities of a moder- 

 ately elastic substance are required as a pad, 

 cushion, or bed, covered with paper. It has 

 been found to be cooler and less liable to over- 

 heat the fruit than several other substances, 

 notably cotton wadding. A proper course of 

 preparation must, however, be accorded to it, 

 and, obviously, fresh-gathered moss is totally 

 unsuited for fruit packages, useful as it is for 

 other purposes. 



Straw is seldom satisfactory as a fruit-pack- 

 ing material, though it is often employed as 

 a covering for Apples in bushels and similar 

 baskets. When short of other materials barley 

 straw, being softer and cheaper, may be used. 

 Hay is still more objectionable on account of its 

 odour, and fresh grass is too moist and heating. 

 Bracken is free from several of the previous 

 objections, it is also elastic, and we have found 

 it very serviceable for covering the larger baskets 

 of Apples. Wood shavings can seldom be used 

 with advantage, except perhaps in large crates 

 containing several boxes of Apples or other hard 

 or unripened fruits. Paper shavings are not so 

 much used as formerly — they are not sufficiently 

 elastic. 



Paper is an important substance in packing 

 arrangements, and needs a few words. It can 

 be employed in a variety of ways for protective 

 purposes as well as for ornament, which from 

 a market point of view are equally worthy of 

 attention. Tissue-paper is particularly useful, 

 especially the white kind, of which the best 

 brands, that may be had from 4s. to 6s. per 

 ream, are excellently adapted for packing pur- 

 poses inside boxes or cases. But a cheap class 

 of paper is now produced as low as 2s. 6d. per 

 ream, which, though not quite so soft and 



