916 
Volume VII 
Madison, Wisconsin, September, 1916 
Number 1 
Copyright 1916 l>y the Wisconsin State IIorticuHuial Society, Madison, Wis. All riglils rr 
sserved. 
PACKING APPLES IN PARRELS 
J. A. HARLEY, Madison 
The purpose of l his supple- 
ment is to furnish the beginner 
with a brief guide to the prin- 
ciples and practices of the up- 
to-date grower and shipper of 
commercial apples. 
Probably the marketing of no 
form of farm produce has under- 
gone a greater revolution during 
the past 20 years than the mar- 
keting of fruit. After experi- 
menting with every conceiv- 
able method, the sentiment be- 
came pretty general that certain 
definite standards should be set 
up and maintained for the good 
of the business. Later, the 
demands of the fruit growers 
found expression in legislation, 
state by state. Finally, the 
National government took ac- 
tion and gave the country the 
“Sulzer Bill,” a law for the 
improvement of the packing and 
marketing of apples. 
The Sulzer Law 
This law clearly defines what 
constitutes (a) standard quality 
of apples, (b) standard grades 
for packing apples, (c) standard 
barrels, and (d) provides that 
when “standard apples” shall 
have been packed in “standard 
barrels,” the grower may use 
certain “U. S. brands” to des- 
ignate his “standard grades.” 
A severe penalty is provided 
for the deceptive use of the 
government brands. 
Standard Apples 
The standard quality of apples 
as provided in the Sulzer Bill is: 
Apples of one variety, well grown 
specimens, hand picked, of good 
color for the variety, of normal 
shape, practically free from in- 
sect or fungus injury, bruises 
and other defects, shall be the 
standard quality. 
An allowance of 10 percent 
leeway is made to any grower in 
packing this quality. 
Standard Grades 
Apples of the above standard 
quality may be packed according 
to size into three grades: 
Grade I. Apples from 2\ 
inches up. 
Grade II. Apples from 2\ 
inches up. 
Grade III. Apples from 2 
inches up. 
It should be carefully noted 
that the Sulzer Law provides for 
only one grade as to quality of 
apples but three grades as to 
size. 
Standard Barrels 
A standard barrel is one whose 
staves are 28§ inches long, 
diameter of head \1\ inches, 
distance between heads 20 inches 
outside circumference of bulge 
04 inches, and volume 7050 
cubic inches. Such a barrel 
holds approximately three 
bushels. 
Standard Brands 
Standard quality apples, 
packed according to standard 
grades, in standard barrels may 
be branded according to grades 
as follows: 
Standard Grade No. I, Min- 
imum Size 2\ inches. 
Standard Grade No. II, Min- 
imum Size 2| inches. 
Standard Grade, No. Ill, Min- 
imum Size 2 inches. 
Standardization Spreading. 
The chief provisions of the 
Sulzer bill, with modifications to 
meet local conditions, are in 
operation in nearly all of the 
apple producing states. Where- 
ever high standards of packing 
and shipping are maintained the 
results are most beneficial. Only 
apples of quality find their way 
to market; the demand for them 
becomes stronger, and the prices 
correspondingly higher. The 
consumer grows confident and 
buys his apples thereafter upon 
the reputation of the brand. 
Kinds of Containers. 
During the past decade great 
improvement has been made in 
the methods of packing and 
marketing fruit. Growers have 
experimented with this form 
and that in the hope of discover- 
ing the best container for their 
produce. 
