GRADING FOR PROFIT 93 



strong and durable. A convenient width for cutting up 

 is 6 feet, and this costs about 6d. a yard run, or 3d. per 

 square yard. Useful bags can be made at from 2d. to 6d. 

 each, according to the size, that can be employed for 

 small quantities of roots or hard, unripe fruit. Bags 

 should never under any circumstances be used for 

 produce that is easily damaged. 



Potatoes require strong and specially made bags or 

 sacks ; the former are usually formed to hold I cwt., and 

 the latter I J cwts. or three bushels. The two-bushel 

 bags are more extensively used now than formerly on 

 the score of convenience, and bags of similar size are 

 utilised for the heavier roots, such as turnips and carrots. 

 Bags are almost exclusively employed for imported nuts, 

 but generally the small sizes are preferred ; British 

 grown walnuts, hazel-nuts, and filberts are marketed 

 in a similar way, though they are also sent in baskets. 



Packing Materials 



An important aid to the best packing is afforded by 

 the choice of the right materials, and a small quantity of 

 that fitted for the work used in a judicious manner will 

 do far more to effect the purpose in view than a large 

 amount of a cheaper but defective substance. The only 

 object in using such aids should be to ensure firmness 

 in the contents of the package, and to prevent damage, 

 though in the case of some produce a suitable substance 

 may be rendered the means of maintaining freshness as 

 well. Beyond this, too, materials of an ornamental 

 character are sometimes desirable, particularly in small 

 packages, for the sake of increasing their attractions to 

 purchasers. What might be termed the artistic side of 

 packing receives little attention amongst British growers, 

 though the majority of importers to this country have 

 realised its value to the fullest extent. It is sufficiently 



