366 
from bruises. Formerly it was deemed 
good packing to allow layers of both the 
cheek and the flat pack in the same box. 
It is found to be unnecessary, however, 
and is undesirable, because it usually 
necessitates two different sizes of apples 
for the same box. Most apples are not 
the same in transverse diameter as 
from calyx to stem. Apples are never 
turned with the stem toward the side of 
the box. In the effort to make the pack 
tight from end to end the cheeks would 
easily bruise. With the cheek pack, a 
neater package is made by turning all 
the stems in the same direction. Some 
packers always pack with the stem to- 
ward them, and others with the stem 
away from them. Some packers occasion- 
ally reverse the end apple of a row to 
make it fit better. 
For exhibition purposes the stems are 
sometimes pointed from either end toward 
the center of the box in the two-two 
cheek pack. In sizes 80 and larger, and 
less frequently in the larger sizes of the 
three-two pack, the top layer is sometimes 
arranged in the “stem to cheek,” or “in- 
terlockine’’ pack, in order to present a 
solid surface of color. (See Fig. 34.) 
However, this necessitates a much larger 
apple for the top layer, and is likely to 
produce stem punctures. It is therefore 
not desirable commercially, and is not in 
favor with many of the judges at the ap- 
ple shows. Another method of obtaining 
a solid surface in three and one-half tier 
Fig. 34. Stem to Cheek, Or Interlocking Pack, 
Not Commercial. 
Fig. 35. 
; Stems pointing diagonally toward 
side of box for obtaining solid surface in 
the large apples packed two-two. Not Com- 
mercial, 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
show apples is to place the top layer 
with the stems pointing diagonally to. 
ward the side of the box, as in Fig 35. 
Apples placed thus do not stay placed, 
however, and the practice is not a com. 
mercial one 
REQUISITES OF A GOOD APPLE 
PACK 
The requisites of a good apple pack 
are (1) a proper bulge, (2) height at 
ends, (8) uniformity of size, (4) firm- 
ness, and (5) neatness, including a goog 
alignment. 
Bulge and Height at Ends 
The general rule for the bulge on a 
box of apples is from one inch to one and 
one-half inches, top and bottom com- 
bined, after the box is nailed up The 
boxes, then, are always piled on their 
sides. The reason for the bulge is to fur- 
nish pressure for keeping the apples tight 
and avoiding injury from their being 
shaken about in handling Formerly, 
more bulge was given, but to the detn- 
ment of the apples. Apples of a soft 
variety, or apples packed or repacked 
after they have begun to mellow cannot 
be given the maximum bulge Double 
tops and bottoms are frequently used 
for export apples in order to prevent 
injury from rough handling in the nets 
employed for loading and unloading at 
the docks. In this case but little bulge 
is given, the top of the curve not rising 
above the box cleats, in order to prevent 
bruising from the stiffness of double 
boards in nailing up. In all cases care 
should be taken to have the crown even, 
so that all apples in the top layer re- 
ceive equal pressure from the lid, and 
none bruised. Likewise the bulge on the 
top and the bottom should be made 
equal by the use of a proper nailing press. 
The subjects of bulge and height at ends 
are closely related. If the pack is firm, 
the size uniform, and the proper style of 
pack employed for the size and shape, the 
height of the crown will usually be cor- 
rect. Attention, then, will have to be 
paid to keeping the ends low. The in- 
clination is toward too great a height at 
the ends, with bruised apples as the re- 
