Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-09-11
Boxes for Gathering Apples and
Potatoes.

Two YEARS ago described a new style
of box for this purpose, and will again
describe it, as those who have tested its
value have found it among the labor
saving implements of the farm and the
orchard. This picking and market box
holds bushel, heaping measure, and is
the most convenient form for the han
ding of apples and vegetables, for stor-
ing in the cellar or for taking to market.
The ends are made of common stock
boards, twelve inches wide, planed on
both sides, and sawed to the exact width
of tv 1--we inches, and then cut into
lengths of fourteen inches. In these
holes are cut for the hands. This is
done by the use of an inch bit, boring
three holes, and trimming them out with
jack knife or common chisel. The next
thing is the lath for the bottom and ends.
These are cut seventeen and one-half
inches long. Six pieces are used for the
bottom, spacing them so that the open
ings between them will be of uniform
size, and with average-width lath, about
three-fourths of an inch each. Five
pieces of lath are put on each side, when
the box is complete. As one lath will
make ten lengths for sides and bottom,
it will require eight lath to the box, or
heads we shall need 235 feet of lumber
For the mailing on of the lath, we use a
common shingle or 4d nail The boxes
may be made without planning, but they
will be much better for it. The lath are
put on rough, without further prepare.
tion. The inside of a common wagon
box is thirty-six inches wide, and as
these boxes are seventeen and one half
inches long, two of them will go into
the box; and the bottom tier will hold,
in ordinary boxes, sixteen to eighteen
and, as we can place one above the other,
and as they hold a bushel when level
full, we put thirty-two to thirty-siX of
these bushel boxes in common wagon
box, which is as much as we usually haul
at one time in bulk.
In the picking of apples in baskets we
usually pour them into the wagonboX
in bulk, and when we come to handle
them again we either pick them up by
hand or use the shovel-in either case
bruising them more or less. With the
box, after filling it, it is lifted into the
wagon, and again lifted out, without fur
ther labor, and the fruit is not injured by
handling
Holding only bushel, man, or two
small boys or girls, can move them from
point to point until filed, when they are
left for the teamster to gather up.
In potato-digging they save no small
amount of labor, as they are filled and
the earth that rattles off the potatoes is
passed through the laths, and thus pre-
vented from going into the cellar. Then
these boxes cost so little that we may
afford TO cord them up in the cellar in
stead of putting into bins, and they are
then ready for market, providing that at
the time of putting up, they have been
properly assorted. The wagon is backed
up to the cellar-door and the boxes of
potatoes placed in, and, on reaching the
market, no shoyeling is required; for
they are ready measured, and, if they
need weighing, it may be done as in case OF
being in bulk. The dealer can cord them
up in his store in less space than to put
them in bulk or in barrels, and they arc
already measured in bushels for thcil
customers. 1t will be seen that the deal
er can afford to pay more for apples OF
potatoes brought him in those boxes
than those in bulk; at least enough tC
counteract the farmer in leaving them
with him to be returned at the next load
The same management may be applied
to the loading of cars with potatoes OF
apPiVS' IL iuOUi ~ was Guls IhaU III ~ Pu'
it into shape. Mr., Robinson, large
orchardist in Tazewell County, planned
two-bushel crate for the purpose oi
storing his apples until ready to ship
and made several hundred of them fol
this purpose.
The box now presented is modifica
ton of Mr.. Robinson's box, as made by
the writer, and, after two years trial
they are confidently presented for gen
eral use as a labor-and-money-saving in
stitution. Iwould find it very difficult
to do without them, and intend to in
crease their number sufficiently to store
large share of my apple and potato
crop, instead of putting them in bins. =
"RurdI," ig ChtcdgO Tribune.