The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-15
FARM, FIELD ANDGARDEN.
IN THE INTERESTS OF AMATEURS AS
WELL AS EXPERIENCED FARMERS.

iimtIy suggestions IN Relation TO Packing
Apples 60 That the Fruit Will Keep In
definitely ard Present a Fine Appear
ance in the Markets.
Every one with any experience whatever
understands that in picking apples for
winter use extreme caution ought to 10
used so a. not 20 hruise or indent the
fruit in the handling. All connected
with he harvesting aud packing Of apples
shonld be impressed with the importance
Of preventing even slight bruisng Of the
fruit
One plan is 10 store the fruit tempora-
rily IN bins in barn or other building, or
in cribs in the orchard OF the two. the
latter is the better place. especially ii the
crib is made in the shade and protected
from rain ~ a covering Of boards and
straw. The apples may then remain in
these cribs until there q danger of fIeez-
ing before they are barreled. The other
way is 20 barrel them in the orchard at
once as they are picked. As between the
two methods the only advantage th,t can
be claimed for keeping the fruit in bulk
for a few weeks is the one Of saving in
evltably rot or turn out defective la the
interim need not be barroied
IN packing apples the practice IS 70 face
Two rows Of fair slightly apples stem
down against the head % bc opened when
offered for sale as i'm this way they looi,
better when the barrel Is opened than il
they were pUt IN last and pressed down
by the head. After the apples in what is
90 be- the opening end of the barrel are
properly arranged it may ho filed up by
laying Che fruit IN Unfortunately. bat
small Cr imperfect apples should al be
kept ont. Tie barre. should be packed ns
full as lt can be- made 20 hold. aal % little
gentle rocking is allowable as the filling
proceeds, 20 assist IN settling them uni
formly. Tic last apples put in should
come mp above the crozc In the barrel SO
that when the screw Is used 10 put the
head down into it's place the packing will
be tight enough 10 prevent any Shocking
or movement of the apples when the bar
rcls are handled The proper degree Of
pressure 10 be applied can only be- learned
Icy experience. but It is quite as often too
little a. too much.
Ii is worthy OF note that apples slightly
bruised or indented by lac pressure of the
heads do not ordinarily rot from that
cause, while If injured TO the same extent
in some other way bette thcy were bar
relied they would do So The difference
is probably owing to the continued pres
sure. as It is generally believed apples
keep better under pressure in th@barrcl
than when laid in loosely. or when put
into bulk previous TO barreling
IL Is advised, when packing apples in
barrels. 10 make first and second qualities,
aud in cases where there is O. small por-
tion Of unusually large fruit. even third
quality. In this way uniformity in size
which contributes greatly 10 tho appear
ancc. can be preserved and. while one
quality will sell higher than lower one
the aggregate amount received will be
larger than when large medium and
small apples are packed together
II is sometimes advised 90 pacl, 10th
heads alike. so that when opened each
end shall show courses of tho best apples
stem Upward. a more general and far
better way is: After the apples have been
faced 10 the head standing ON the ground
and the barrel is filed zap 20 the lro1c. 90
finish up with appies that viii represent
the smallest ones the barrel contains
Two good reasons can b. given for so
doing One is that as the apples are TO
b. pressed down small ones will lie closer
together and pack down better under the
pressure OF the head tilan the large ones
will. and if "a iew are squeezed too hard
the damage will be- less than f they were
# Che largest. Another and still better
reason is that o. buyer may Ina this way
have the opportunity OF seeug sample
IF the smallest as well "a, OF tie largest
aud best
Extremes. however. should De avoided
and unusually large and Pineapple should
1o packed by themseiye-, o. beioro iuti.
mated and form an extra hnc quality 10
be- sold for fancy price. and quite small
ones should not Dee packed az all Only
good. fair sized end meicA1utahlc apples
Should 90 in ass SO. l. and the smaller
sic should De- packed ~s SO Uniform
ity in size should bc preserved through
out as well o. possible except lhst when
opened one head uay show slightly above
end the other slightly below the general
average-New York World