STORAGE OF CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES. 15 
A convenient packing support for the drums and field boxes can 
be made of 2 by 4 inch scantling. Two strips of convenient length 
are fastened together 8 or 10 inches apart, with the proper frame- 
work to form a long packing table or bench, the top consisting of the 
parallel strips for holding the drums or boxes. The small barrels slip 
into this support and can be tilted against the side nearest the packer, 
being held firmly in place by their own weight. Figure 3 shows the 
interior of a packing house and illustrates an excellent arrangement 
of the field boxes, packing tables, and facilities for handling the 
sawdust. 
Fig. 4. — An automobile truckload of Emperor grapes packed in drums ready to load into 
a refrigerator car. 
In packing the fruit the bottom of the drum should first be covered 
with about 2 inches of sawdust. The grapes should be packed in 
layers, usually one bunch deep, and as each layer is placed enough 
sawdust should be shaken over it to thoroughly sift through the 
bunches. Sharp jarring is required to fill all the interspaces be- 
tween the berries, and this may be accomplished by shaking the 
drum slightly but rather abruptly back and forth, or, even better, 
by tapping the sides with the hands. Enough filling material must 
be used to prevent appreciable settling after the drum is filled, and 
this can be accomplished only by careful attention to the packing 
of each layer. The round form of the barrel permits a very close 
pack to be made, each drum generally containing three layers of 
grapes. The bunches may be laid either on the side or with the stem 
