July 14, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
23 
l[pgr-c—— 
COMING EVENTS 
14 
TH 
Alexandra Palace Rose Show (three days). 
Birmingham, Harleston, 
15 
F 
Helenburvh and Hereford Shows. 
[and Chiswick Shows. 
16 
S 
New Brighton Show. 
17 
SUM 
6th Sunday aftek Trinity. 
18 
M 
Chii&tleton Show. 
19 
Tu 
Lees Show. 
20 
w 
Birkenhead Show. 
PACKING FRUIT. 
EIIHAPS of all indoor and outdoor fruits 
'Str I JltP Grapes are the most difficult to pack for a 
l° n o railway journey without injury. Those 
""’ho grow for home consumption only, and 
can dish up their fruit directly it is cut from 
the Vines, may consider themselves fortunate 
gU in comparison with those who have to pack 
the bulk of the produce they grow. Full 
•credit is not always accorded to the latter cultivators. 
Not long ago I heard the remark, “ What an excellent 
bloom there is on your Grapes ! Ours are not so tempting, 
for they are often very badly rubbed.” No allowance 
being made in the case of the one who had to pack his 
fruit for a journey of nearly 300 miles, to be then un¬ 
packed by persons who would not handle the fruit with the 
same care as the producer. The Grapes with the fine 
bloom had only to travel from the vinery to the house. 
It may be contended that Grapes can be packed to 
travel any distance without injury to the bloom, and this 
I admit, for hundreds of examples can be seen at our 
great fruit shows from all parts of the kingdom without 
the slightest blemish. If gardeners could follow the 
same plan for the conveyance of fruit from the vinery to 
the table as is the case when staged in the exhibition tent, 
then all fear of the appearance being injured would be 
removed. This system would not be tolerated except on 
special occasions, for the cost in conveyance would amount 
to more than the fruit was worth. Economy has to be 
too closely considered in the management of gardens at 
the present day to think of attempting any such practice. 
I think that it is almost impossible to pack Grapes in an 
ordinary way without the bloom being damaged. I have 
examined hundreds of examples that have been packed 
both for the market and private use, and have always 
observed that those that had been well packed were slightly 
rubbed. Grapes can, however, be packed in various ways 
to arrive in good condition without their appearance being 
injured to any serious extent. 
Whether Grapes arrive in good condition or the 
reverse depends almost entirely upon whether the fruit is 
overripe, the bunches firm and compact, or the reverse. 
Those that are overripe—take Black Hamburghs for 
instance—are very difficult to pack to insure their giving 
satisfaction when they reach their journey’s end. With 
the least pressure or knocking about the berries fall from 
the footstalks. Grapes in this condition are seldom 
packed for the market; most varieties, even if kept for 
months after they are ripe, adhere to the footstalks much 
more firmly than is the case with the variety named, and 
the berries are far less liable to burst. When the fruit 
is in this condition large quantities must never be packed 
No. 368. —Vol XV., Third Series. 
in the same box or basket for fear of the whole being 
spoiled. Pack each bunch separately, so that the risk of 
destruction can be limited. Large bunches are as bad 
to pack satisfactorily as Grapes that are overripe; they 
are certain to be rubbed to a much greater extent than 
those of moderate size, which are the best for travelling. 
Varieties that have long tapering bunches and are 
moderately wide across the top are perhaps the most 
difficult of all to pack well. Loose bunches are much 
more liable to rub one another when packed together in 
quantity than those that are firm and compact. 
Packing Grapes for the market and for private use 
are two totally different matters. For the former 
they are generally packed in larger quantities than are 
needed by private establishments. For instance, a 
basket or box, or a number of each, is sent away at one 
time according to circumstances, while on the other hand 
a regular supply has to be maintained in most cases, and 
two, four, six, or more bunches may have to be packed at 
intervals of a few days along with other fruits and 
garden produce. In cases of this description the quantity 
to be sent is insufficient to fill a box or basket unless 
very small, and if these were provided they would in¬ 
variably upset other arrangements where boxes, trays, or 
tins are so arranged to fit in one large box or hamper. 
For some years we have been in the habit of sending 
small quantities of Grapes a long distance during the 
greater portion of the year two or three times a week, and 
found the best method of packing was to place each bunch 
separately. The paper used was moderately stiff and 
highly glazed on one side. These were prepared as if for 
sugar, and tapered from the top to the point accord¬ 
ing to the size and width of the bunch, the point being 
doubled up before inserting the bunch, and the top care¬ 
fully folded over the stalk. These were then packed in 
tins upright, or laid on their side, whichever way they 
would fit best, a little cotton wool being placed between 
them, and to fill the tin, so that they could not shake 
about. The' paper used must be sufficiently stiff to 
remain straight and as smooth as possible inside, then 
few berries will be rubbed. Some years ago to test this 
principle I had two bunches sent a long distance, then 
returned, with scarcely any perceptible damage to the 
bloom. I may say, if the paper is not highly glazed the 
whole of the bloom will be removed from the berries that 
touch it. Care is necessary in placing the bunches into 
these papers and in folding them and taking them out 
again. The papers are easily pressed straight, and can 
be used several times. 
When numbers of bunches are required to be packed 
these may be placed closely together in baskets or boxes 
with but little material. The basket or box used must be 
full, then but little rubbing will take place. If baskets are 
used they can either be square, oblong, round, or oval. If 
of the latter two they are all the better if they taper 
gradually from the base upwards, then the bottom portion 
of the basket is certain to be filled. If we had large 
quantities to pack at one time for market oval baskets 
with a handle across them, tapering as described, would 
be preferred. In square baskets the difficulty is to fill 
the bottom where the bunches taper as well as the top. 
With a little care this can be done. For instance, a layer 
of moss, cotton wool, or paper shavings should be spread 
over the bottom, then a layer of tissue paper, and the 
same up the sides of the basket. At the end where it is 
intended to commence placing the bunches the same 
material as used for the base may be sloped gradually 
No. 2024.—' Vol. LXXVII., OiD Series, 
