75 



discard the grading- board for the most part, and can tell at a glance 

 if a certain apple is going to fit in a certain pack. If in doubt, he 

 holds the apple up to the hole, but never drops it through. Some 

 rnen, the grower finds, soon adapt themselves to this method and 

 become very proficient graders. But, just as you have found in 

 barreling, some men Avill never learn how. 



Packing Table. 



The packing table, which stands before you (See Fig- 

 ure i), represents a style of table that is used quite 



Fig:. 1. Packing: Table in General Use. Courtesy Better Fruit.) 



extensively throughout the West. The table is about three 

 feet high, three feet wide, and three feet long. The uprights 

 are made of 2 inch x 4 inch material ; sides, i inch x 6 inch. 

 The legs are beveled ofif so as to leave no sharp edges to bruise the 

 fruit. The top is covered with canvas, which is allowed to sag or 

 hang rather loosely. To serve as a double protection to the fruit, 

 rubber hose is nailed around the top of the table. A board nailed 

 across the end and one on the side of the table, serve to support the 

 box, which is placed on an angle. 



Box Material. 



Pine or spruce appears to be the best material for boxes. This 

 material is delivered to the grower in shooks. He makes his own 

 boxes. An expert can put up from 200 to 300 per day. Cleats are 

 placed on the tops and bottoms of the boxes. Cement coated or 

 barbed nails are used, ^^'e have two sized boxes in general use in 

 Oregon; one is known as the California Special — this box that is 

 before you, — having inside measurements 10 in. x. 11 in. x. 20 in.; 

 the other is the Standard, having inside measurements of 10J/2 in. x 

 11^ in. x 18 in. 



Details of Packing. 



Uniform sized apples are brought to the packing table. The 

 packer now^ begins his first operation, i. e., the lining of the sides of 

 the box with lining paper. This is nothing more or less than com- 



