FARM HANDICRAFT FOR SCHOOLS. 
25 
Note to Teacher. — These forcing boxes can be made useful aids in teaching 
agriculture. If you have no rhubarb or asparagus in the school garden, undoubtedly 
you can get permission to use a few clumps at some near-by farm. The pupils will 
be interested in observing the difference between the forced and unforced plants, 
and, in addition, it will show them the necessity of warmth in plant growth. 
The making of the boxes and their use in a garden will suggest 
good ideas for written lessons. As problems in arithmetic, have the 
pupils keep records of the sale prices of forced and unforced rhubarb 
and asparagus and compare the results, taking into account the cost 
of the boxes. As the boxes should last, say, five years, they should 
be figured at one-fifth of the actual cost. 
EXERCISE X. SORTING TABLE FOR VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. 
In figure 31 is shown a sorting table for use when packing vegeta- 
bles and fruits. It is especially useful for tomatoes and apples. The 
Fig. 31.— Sorting table. 
table is 3 feet high, 3 feet 2 inches wide, and 4 feet long and will 
accommodate two packers. The top is made of burlap or canvas 
stretched loosely on the frame ; this provides a yielding surface that 
will not bruise the product to be packed. The baskets or other con- 
tainers to be filled are placed on rests made by a board extending 
across the bottom of the frame. Two of the side boards extend out 
a foot to provide a rest against which a box or other flat container 
can be leaned, if such a type is used. 
The lumber required is one piece of 1 by 8 inches by 16 feet, one 
piece 1 by 12 inches by 10 feet, two pieces 1 foot by 3 inches by 
10 feet, two pieces 1 foot by 3 inches by 8 feet, and one piece 2 by 
4 inches by 12 feet. The other material required is two pieces of 
burlap or canvas, each 4 by 5 feet, 14 feet of old rubber hose, and a 
quantity of 8 and 10 penny nails. 
