18 
BULLETIN 35, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
employed the crosspieces must be so placed that the pressure applied 
in tightening comes against the heads and bottoms of the drums; 
otherwise, the thin veneer sides of the packages will be crushed. 
SELECTION OF GRAPES FOR STORAGE. 
Those varieties of grapes which have open bunches are most suit- 
able for storage purposes. Flame Tokay and similar compact 
varieties do not pack well for storage, because it is almost impossible 
to have the sawdust particles reach the interior of the bunches or to 
dislodge them after- 
wards. Further 
qualifications neces- 
sary for good storage 
grapes are adherence 
of the berries to the 
stems and the preser- 
vation of flavor and 
appearance during a 
considerable length 
of time. 
Only fruit of the 
best quality can be 
profitably held in 
storage. Inferior 
grades deteriorate 
rapidly and retain 
neither" their fresh 
appearance nor their 
flavor long enough to 
pay for the extra 
cost of handling. 
The packing of 
grapes in this way is 
expensive, and it is 
therefore essential to devote the most painstaking attention to the 
proper preparation of the fruit. The grapes must be very care- 
fully picked, handled, and packed in order to insure their being 
placed in the drums in sound condition. The berries should be free 
from blemishes-, and the bunches should be most carefully culled in 
order to eliminate all imperfections. It must be remembered that 
redwood sawdust can not improve the grade of fruit packed in it, 
and that while this material will delay for a time the decay of 
unsound berries it can not prevent the development of mold on 
those which have been injured in any way. 
Fig. 7. — Drums of grapes in a refrigerator car, showing the 
method of bracing employed in the middle of the car. 
The crosspieces are so placed that the pressure applied 
in tightening comes against the heads and bottoms of 
the drums. 
