PACKING FRUITS FOR ROAD OR RAIL. 



377 



judgment is needed here. There is also con- 

 siderable difference in the varieties, some of 

 which ripen more gradually and are of firmer 

 skin and texture, more fitted for enduring 

 traA r elling, than others. It is necessary also to 

 consider the different sizes of the fruits accord- 

 ing to the variety and the crop, so that boxes 

 of proportionate sizes may be obtained both as 

 to depth, length, and breadth. All the fruits 

 named should be packed in single-layer boxes, 

 which are often made with separate partitions, 

 like egg-boxes, so that there is a separate place I 

 for each fruit. These are condemned by some, 

 but have been used by many with success, and 

 a good deal depends upon the way the fruit is 

 packed as to the respective results. Boxes to 

 hold a dozen or two dozen fruits may be 3, 

 3 J, or 4 inches deep (according to the size of the 

 fruits), and these may be, for single dozens, 

 9 inches by 12 inches, 10 J inches by 14 inches, 

 or 12 inches by 16 inches; for two dozen fruits j 

 in the same proportion the boxes would be 12 

 inches by 18 inches, 14 inches by 21 inches, | 

 and 16 inches by 24 inches. The larger boxes 

 must be of stouter material, with good bottoms 

 and lids. 



Each fruit should be wrapped in tissue-paper, 

 brought up to the apex of the fruit, and screwed 

 there. Upon the base of the box a layer of dry, 

 clean moss, or the finest wood wool, can be placed 

 and covered with paper. The fruits should 

 then be surrounded by strips of cotton wadding, 

 glazed side outwards, i.e. next to the fruit, and 

 then arrange each firmly in position. Wood 

 wool can be substituted for the cotton wadding 

 if it is placed carefully between and around the 

 fruits. Over all a sheet of paper and a layer 

 of wood wool will enable the lid to be pressed 

 down gently but firmly, and then secured by 

 nails or string. If the boxes with partitions 

 are used, each compartment must be carefully 

 padded, the fruits must be filled round firmly. 

 The chief danger in these is that the fruits are 

 liable to be left too loose. 



A similar method is adopted for Apricots, 

 ripe Plums, and Figs, but the last-named must 

 be perfectly dry and distinctly underripe to 

 ensure safe carriage. They decompose very 

 rapidly, or are affected by mould if packed too 

 ripe. 



Pine-apples. — These are best packed in wooden 

 cases, with a partition in the centre, through 

 which the stems can be passed and secured. 

 British growers do not often have to pack 

 Pine-apples in these days, but the large supplies 

 which reach our markets from other countries 



are always packed in the way described, usually 

 from six to eight in a case, with some soft 

 material to keep them firm. 



Packing Small Fruits.- — As regards all small 

 fruits the grading should be done at the time 

 of packing, thus avoiding undue handling. For 

 the finest fruits it is often the rule to gather 

 direct into the baskets or boxes ready for sale 

 or use. On a large scale this is open to many 

 objections, and though the increa.se of hand- 

 work in connection with soft fruits is not desir- 

 able, this must be done occasionally, and it will 

 necessitate extra care in supervision. 



The finest early Strawberries should be 

 gathered in trays or shallow baskets and 

 taken direct to the packing-room without being 

 turned out. The packer then selects all the 

 best for punnets, and the others may be again 

 sorted for sale at different prices. From the 

 earliest gatherings of the leading varieties there 

 should, however, be few that are not fit for 

 punnets. The earliest fruit is generally put 

 up in J-lb. punnets, the main crops in 1-lb. 

 punnets, and occasionally 2 -lb. punnets are 

 used, but these are not convenient for packing, 

 though they answer very well for shop sale. 

 Both square chip punnets (with and without 

 handles) and round plaited punnets are in use, 

 the former having the advantage of packing 

 closely together in a small compass, but the 

 fruit is seen to best advantage in round shallow 

 punnets, and these are generally preferred by 

 purchasers, while they unquestionably look 

 better on a table. Nothing so well suits the 

 Strawberry as its own leaves for punnet pack- 

 ing, the only difficulty is to avoid using very 

 rigid or springy leaves, as those are liable to 

 disturb the fruit in the jolting of railway jour- 

 neys. Some varieties have soft pliable leaves, 

 exactly adapted for the purpose, especially if 

 they are of a bright or dark-green colour. The 

 bottom and side of the punnets are lined with 

 these leaves, and upon that the fruits are placed 

 singly and firmly, the stalks of the fruits all in 

 one direction, with the best-coloured side of the 

 fruit uppermost. 



All punnet Strawberries should be packed 

 with the stalks, and even good fruits must be 

 excluded when they are defective in this respect. 



The round punnets can be conveniently packed 

 in trays, either for market or home use : if they 

 are to be sent by rail, several trays can be tied 

 together. Those in general use which we have 

 found most satisfactory are 3J inches deep. 

 12J inches wide, and 20| inches long, which 

 will hold six 1-lb. punnets and allow sufficient 



