372 
vision made for sorting at some of the 
sizing machines, all save two handlings 
of the apples over the method of sorting 
from box to box by hand, then piling the 
boxes of sorted apples to be handled 
again when taken to the packing table. 
Where a large quantity of the fruit is 
concerned, and where it has to be truck- 
ed any distance between operations, this 
item is especially important. These same 
machines and devices also render it un- 
necessary to pick up each apple separate- 
ly and turn it over in the hand for ex- 
amination in sorting, the same result be- 
ing accomplished by rolling over several 
of the apples at once with the outspread 
fingers. Perhaps not the least advantage 
in the use of any machine is that it sets 
a pace for the workers. There is nothing 
at which a man can waste more time than 
at sorting by hand, with the opportunity 
afforded for making slow decisions. To 
be sure, expert and alert help is re- 
quired for sorting at any of these ma- 
chines or devices, and one cannot expect 
to find a man fit for the job at the price 
of ordinary labor. At that, their use has 
been estimated by one of the largest 
dealers in the State of Washington—a 
man who has used one both on his own 
ranch and in one of his warehouses—to 
save from 30 to 70 per cent of the usual 
cost of sorting. In addition, the sizing 
machine should make possible the em- 
ployment of persons for packing, who, 
lacking an eye for size, could not other- 
wise be employed for the purpose, and 
will tend toward reducing the competi- 
tion among growers in the market for 
packers. Finally, packers can be ex- 
pected to work for less per box when 
packing from the trays of a sizing ma- 
chine, where they have to handle but one 
Size at a time, or at the most two. 
In a few instances sorters have been 
paid by the box rather than by the day 
for their labor, which has greatly cut 
down the cost; but the difficulty of se- 
curing careful work under this system 
would cause it to be frowned upon by 
most growers. An appreciable amount of 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
time can be saved in soiting by the elim. 
ination of all but two grades, No 1 ang 
No. 2, with only a few standard varieties 
allowed in the first. Every added box 
into which the sorter must sort 1educes 
by so much his output for the day. The 
Washington State Horticultural Associa 
tion, at its meeting in 1913, passed a rego. 
lution to the effect that “the price paid 
for packing apples, prunes and peais 
should be one cent per box less, and for 
packing peaches one-half cent pe. box 
less, to packers who have to be waited 
upon, than is paid to those who wait upon 
themselves.” Although the principle in- 
volved is probably just, still no change 
can be expected except from a change in 
economic conditions. In one other way 
labor can be saved in the packing house 
—by a convenient arrangement ot the 
house itself and of the packing furniture 
Although this fact seems self evident, 
still a trip through any apple produc- 
ing district at packing time impresses 
one that many times the tact is lost 
sight of by the grower. Things were not 
prearranged before the rush began. It 
will pay to give attention to so little a 
matter as the arrangement of the rubber 
stamps convenient for the nailer 
It is stated that persons grading by 
hand can be expected to assorl an average 
of about ninety loose boxes of apples 
per ten hour day, when working by the 
day. When working by the box, they 
will run the number up to one hundred 
and fifty or over unless watched. Pack- 
ers will do good work at from thirty to 
one hundred boxes a day, depending on 
the person and the conditions. From 
five to seven and one-half cents per box 
are paid for packing, sometimes includ- 
ing board, the price varying according 
to the supply of packers and the condi- 
tions under which they work. The aver- 
age between the cost of putting up 
apples, also pears and peaches, in each 
of two representative fruit growing val- 
leys of Colorado, as given by a co-opera- 
tive association in each, is itemized in 
the following table: 
