1922.] 



The Grading and Sizing of Apples. 



431 



A is a table on to which the ungraded fruit is poured, with 

 sides 8 in. high to prevent it rolling oft'. B is a basket or box 

 for receiving blemished fruit, and C are trays (sloping slightly 

 away from A) for receiving the different sizes of unblemished 

 fruit, and D are gaps in the front side of A of widths suitable 

 for gauging the fruit to the different sizes required. The table 

 and trays should be made of canvas on framework and the sizing 

 gaps should be lined with felt. The sorter would stand behind 

 the table A with the ungraded apples in front of him. He 

 would sort the blemished apples into the box B and try the un- 

 blemished apples against the gaps D, allowing them to run 

 through into the trays C when they would just go through. 

 The packer would have a box on a rest at the further end of each 

 tray. What promises to be a considerable improvement upon 

 this method is being tried by officers of the Ministry and, if 

 the results prove satisfactory, will he made public later. 

 Some such arrangement would appear suitable for handling 

 a small crop, but where packing on a large scale is to be under- 

 taken, consideration should be given to the American machines. 



