APPLES 
the high quality of output at which they 
have aimed can be secured only by the dis- 
tinct separation of the processes of grad- 
ing and paching In the districts bearing 
the enviable 1eputations for their apple 
product, however, this fact has been recog- 
nized and the division made. It is doubt- 
ful if a packer exists, who, under the 
piecework system and at a rate of pay- 
ment possible for the grower to give, will 
pay the attention to both processes at 
once such as is required to satisfy the 
preseut demand as to grade and pack 
caused by the increasing competition in 
the apple market. This does not mean 
that the packer should not still be held 
responsible for the grade as well as the 
pack, however. On the contrary, in the 
most progressive districts he is so held 
responsible and in an actually operative 
manner, by withholding his pay until his 
work is accepted by the proper inspector, 
at which time, of course, his responsibility 
ceases. As is but just, he is at the same 
time given the right to refuse to pack 
apples not properly sorted. The Hood 
River Apple Growers’ Union has been the 
pioneer and the leader in its efforts to 
secure a perfect product through a strict 
management of its packers. 
Various methods for controlling the 
packer under various conditions, in order 
to secure a good quality of output from 
him, including those just mentioned, are 
enumerated herewith: (1) paying by the 
day, rather than by the piece (which 
practice has rarely anywhere been contin- 
ued long, because of the lack of incentive 
for the packers to work at a speed profit- 
able to the employer); (2) separation of 
the processes of grading and packing; 
(3) classifying the packers according 
to the rate of speed at which they can 
do good work, and setting a limit for 
the output in number of boxes per hour 
for each class; (4) making the packer 
financially responsible by withholding 
his pay until his boxes have been ac- 
cepted by the proper inspector; (5) grant- 
ing the packer the right to refuse to 
pack apples not properly sorted; (6) 
paying the packer at a fair rate for ap- 
371 
ples, not culls, which he sorts out which 
are not of the grade he ts packing (be- 
sides helping to keep the lines between 
the grades distinct, this serves as a 
check upon the gradeis); (7) requiring 
each packer to insert a slip into each 
box which he packs, containing his num- 
ber, the definition ot the grade which he 
is packing, and a request that the cus- 
tomer return the slip with a complaint 
if the pack is not satisfactory or the 
grade not up to standard. To identify 
each packer’s boxes, most associations 
furnish their packers with number stamps 
upon the deposit of the proper price, the 
number to appear on each box the packer 
puts out. 
The problem of expense in the packing 
house has been an increasing one, due 
in a large measure to the increasing 
exactitude of the standards of grade and 
pack, together with the increase of the 
apple crop beyond the supply of com- 
petent labor to care for it. Economy can 
be secured only through the items of 
materials and labor. As to the first, 
little improvement can be looked for im- 
mediately. It should be remembered 
in the preparing of any article for mar- 
ket, that cheapness and saving do not 
necessarily mean economy, and that ex- 
pense borne merely to impress the con- 
sumer frequently brings excellent re- 
turns. 
Most of the economy in the packing 
house must come through the saving of 
labor. The tender nature of the apple, 
as compared to the orange, deferred until 
recent years the devising of machinery 
for handling the former fruit such as is 
used for the latter. It would seem that 
now, however, under the increasing neces- 
sity for economy along every line, ma- 
chinery and devices for handling the ap- 
ples are to be the chief factors toward 
gaining the desired end. 
Some really worthy effort has been ex- 
pended in trying to perfect these various 
machines. The wiping machine saves 
hand work. The combined sorting and 
packing table, the sorting belt, the pro- 
