32 



weight and the other is by sizers. The sizers are of three general 

 styles. One of the simplest and also the best is a " V " shape with the 

 different sizes marked on the side. The fruit is taken up by the 

 crown and placed in the sizer till it touches gently each side, and the 

 side lines then mark its size. Care must be taken to see that the 

 greatest diameter of the fruit is invariably used. 



Another style is a series of slats nailed on two cross pieces so that 

 the spaces between will form the sizes. The fruit is sized by finding 

 the space it most nearly fits. The edges of the slat must be rounded, 

 so as not to injure the fruit, and even a light padding is advisable. 

 A third form is a series of circles cut in a large board, each circle 

 being a size. The fruit is sized by finding the circle through which 

 the butt end will just pass. 



Sizing is also clone by weight. This system is probably due to the 

 fact that some canning factories buy by weight. It is figured that a 

 crate holds about 72 pounds and the scale was based on that amount. 

 Because of the very great irregularity in the development of the 

 crown this method is very faulty for pines to be packed for shipment 

 and is not used to any considerable extent. 



Whichever system is used it is best to use the larger limit of 

 diameter required to make that sized pack. Make your brand stand 

 for " extra " in every way. 



These are the chief methods of sizing, but they have many modifica- 

 tions. They are all faulty in that they measure only the greatest 

 diameter. They are effective in proportion to the care used in grad- 

 ing and the skill in using the system chosen. Here again is work for 

 the horticultural societies. There should be a general scale of sizes 

 adopted and specifications as to what shall constitute a regulation 

 first grade, second grade, etc. Then expert inspectors should be 

 chosen to see that every box comes up to its grade. By this method 

 the Porto Rican fruit can soon make its own market. 



The prevailing sizes for Red Spanish are as follows : 



Diameter in 



inches. 



IS's; that is, 18 to the crate 5£ 



24's; that is, 24 to the crate 4f -4f 



30's; that is, 30 to the crate 4f -4& 



36's; that is, 36 to the crate 3*fM£ 



42's; that is, 42 to the crate 3J -3| 



48's; that is, 48 to the crate 3i 7 <j-3i 



Other sizes, such as 20's, 28's, 32's, etc., are sometimes used, but if 

 the regulation crate is employed these make awkward packs, and as 

 a rule do not bring more than the next smaller pack. 



PAPER AND WRAPPING. 



There is no prescribed paper or method of wrapping; it is not the 

 method, but how well it is done, that counts. The packer can here 



