PACKING GRAPES. 



61 



drawing the three thicknesses of paper inwards ; gradually work 

 round, constantly drawing the paper inwards until the berries begin 

 to show signs of rising out of the box. Strain a sheet of paper over 

 the top ; secure the card containing the weight with a tack. Turn 

 up the paper from the outside, and secure the lid. Some gardeners 

 place moss or wadding over the paper, and thus take all the 

 bloom off the shoulders. Nothing more than a sheet of paper 

 should be placed between the Grapes and the lid ; the pressure of 

 the elastic moss keeps every berry in its place, prevents the loss 

 of bloom by friction, and the stalks which stand upwards prevent 

 the shoulders from touching the lid. 



The preceding directions apply to Hamburghs ; Muscats, 

 being more tender, require greater care, and the less they are 

 handled the better, as any undue pressure or friction causes them 

 to change colour when opened and exposed to the air. They 

 must, however, have sufficient packing to prevent them from 

 moving in transit. If the bunches are very large it may be 

 necessary to use wider boxes, but they need not be deeper. 

 Having prepared the box by laying two inches of moss at the 

 bottom, line the sides and ends with strips of wadding folded in 

 silver paper, and proceed as before by tilting the box to a sharp 

 angle. Place a double sheet of silver paper in the lower angle, 

 allowing two-thirds to run along the bottom. Cut the first 

 bunch, lay it lengthwise across the box, turn up the ends of the 

 paper, and draw them with both hands over the bunch towards 

 the lower end. Then take a strip of wadding, four inches by 

 twelve, and place it against the bunch to form a division ; lay in 

 another double sheet of paper, and proceed by laying the next 

 bunch with the shoulders in the opposite direction. Turn up the 

 ends of the paper as before, and draw the second bunch close to 

 the first. Add another strip of wadding, and repeat until the 

 box is full, when by raising it to a sharper angle, the weight of 

 the fruit, aided by very slight pressure with the fingers, will 

 make room for another bunch. Fill all vacancies round the 

 sides by forcing moss between the wood and the lining ; fold the 

 upstanding ends of the paper evenly over the fruit, and secure the 

 lid with two small nails. Enclose the record of the weight, and 

 cord each box singly or two together. Wadding must be used 

 with great care, and on no account be put in contact with the 

 Grapes. 



