606 



Standardisation of Chip Baskets. 



[Oct., 



would be facilitated and possibly cheapened if the use of pack- 

 ages were limited to those which had been standardised. Soon 

 after an agreement was reached as to the standardisation of 

 the apple box, and a public Conference was called at the 

 Imperial Fruit Show of 1921 to consider the possible standardi- 

 sation of other packages. At the Conference it was generally 

 agreed that standardisation was necessary, but that more in- 

 vestigation was necessary before the actual details could be 

 settled. Daring the early part of the present season, therefore, 

 a further investigation was made to obtain sufiQ.cient data to 

 permit of the settlement of definite standards. The collection 

 of these data was done by the writer and the following gives 

 a brief outline of the investigation. 



To ascertain the exact position, specimens of chips at present 

 in use were obtained and a determination made of their 

 capacity, with the results shown in the following table: — 



Cubic capacity, 

 Sample in inches, level 

 Number. with top of 

 basket, 



Sample 

 Number. 



Cubic capacity, 

 in inches, level 

 with top of 

 basket. 



Jcers^ No. 2 Size 



Makers., No. 4 Size 





1 130 



13 



... 211 



2 132 



14 



... 227 



3 144 



15 



... 237 



No. 3 Size 



16 



... 239 



4 IGO 



17 



... 244 



5 175 



18 



... 245 



6 181 



19 



... 245 



7 185 



No. 6 Size 





8 189 



20 



... 343 



9 1<J3 



21 



... 365 



10 203 



22 



... 385 



11 215 







12 215 







The capacity was ascertained by filling each chip with haricot 

 beans, the true cubic capacity of which was then determined 

 by weight (allowing that 1 oz. beans had a capacity of 

 2.03 cu. in.). In every instance the beans were shaken down 

 to secure consistent settlement and means were provided to 

 prevent distortion of the package from the normal. By this 

 method the capacity can be obtained with a margin of error 

 probably not exceeding more than 2 per cent. The illustration 

 shows the chips of sizes 3 and 4 that were tested. 



The measurement of baskets with fruit would have been 

 more difficult, for the weight capacity of any one basket of 

 soft fruit, and particularly strawberries, varies with the season, 



