The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-09-19
FARM AND GARDEN.
Boxes for Gathering Apples ana rotatoe

RRW AMI ~ - r. ~ EN-,
Boxes for Gathering Apples ana Potatoes.
Two years ago described new style ot
box for this purpose, and will again describe
it, as those who have tested It's 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 handling of apples and vegetables, for
storing 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 10 the exact width of twelve inches,
and thea 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 onc.half inches long. Six
pieces are used for the bottom, spacing them
so that the openings between them VIII be OF
uniform size, and with average-Wluth lath'
about three.iOurths Of an inch each. FIVE
pieces of lath are put on each side, when the
box is complete. AS one lath VIII MAKE ten
lengths for sides and bottom, 1t Will require
eight lath to the box, or 500 lah for lOO boxes :;
while for the heads we shall need 23o feet OF
lumber. For the mailing on OF the lath, we
cN-NN'
NAV be made without planning, but they will
be much better for il. The lath are put on
rough, without further preparation. The IN
side 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
70 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 hushel when level full, we put
thirty-two to thirty.siX of these bushe 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 wagOn-DoX 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 further labor, and tic fruit is not
injured by handling.
Holding only bushcl man, or two small
boys or girls, can move them from point to
point until filled, when they arc left tor the
teamster 10 gather up.
In potatodigging they save no small
amount of labor, as they are filled and the
earth that rattles off the potatoes is passed
going into the cellar Then tnCse boxes cost
50 little that we may afford to cord them up
in the cellar instead 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 mar.
ket, no shoveling 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 II bulk or in bar
rels, and they are already measured in bushels
dealer can afford to pay more Tor apples or
those III bulk; at least enough to COunteraCt
the farmer in leaving them with him to be,
returned at the next load.
The same management may be applied to i
the loading Of cars with potatoes or apples. |
In fact il was this that first put it into shape
Mr.. Robinson, large orchardst in Tazewell
county, planned a twO-bushel crate for the |
purpose OF storing his apples until ready to
ship, and made SCI cral hundred of them for
this purpose
The box now presented Is a modification of
Mr.. RObinson's box, as made by the writer,
and, after two wears trial they are confident
ly presented for general use as labor-and-
money.saving institution. | would tlDd it,
very difficult to dc without them, anC intend
TO increase their number sufficiently to store
a large share Of my apple and potato crop,
instead of putting them in bns-"Rurul,"
IN Chicago Tribune.
Mutton FATTENED oNl MUMMrEs-A cor
respondent of the London Times, writing
from AIexan dria, remarks: Fancy mutton
fattened on ancient Egyptians! The other
day, at Sakhara, | saw nine camc!s pacing
down from the mummy-pits to the bank OF
the river, laden with nets, IN which were
iemora, tibia, and other bOny bits of the
human form, some two hundred weight in
each net on each side of the camel Among
The pits there were people busily engaged in
searching out, sitting, and sorting the bones
which almost crust the ground. On inquiry, |
learned that the cargoeS with which the
ramels wore linden TOulI be sent down TO 7