6 
BULLETIN" 859, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
another method that deserves careful consideration, in which the 
fruit after it is picked is washed and handled by means of a machine. 
The field crates used in connection with the machine, and also by 
many growers who do not use a machine, are made of hardwood 
mill edgings that have been carefully planed and smoothed, especially 
where the tomato is likely to come in contact with them. The crate 
is open, so that all sand and dirt fall through and do not injure the 
tomatoes during hauling. 
When the tomatoes arrive at the packing shed they are dumped 
into a large tank at the end of the machine, which contains a special 
washing solution kept at as high a temperature as the fruit will stand. 
Fig. 2.— Scene in a Florida tomato packing house. 
Were the solution with which the tomatoes are washed nothing more 
than hot water, it can hardly be doubted that the thorough removal 
of adhering sand, dirt, and fungous spores would be beneficial. The 
tomatoes remain in this supposedly disinfectant solution for about 
half a minute, constantly revolving, and are pushed toward an end- 
less chain which carries them up an incline, where a spray of cold 
water rinses off the washing mixture. Drying is accomplished by 
passing the fruit between two layers of sponges. As it passes over 
the rollers, cullers are able to pick out the undesirable fruit without 
handling the remainder. It then passes over a special sizer, from 
which the several grades drop on tightly spread duck inclined planes 
