The Arizona champion., 1891-01-24
HANDLING FARM TRUCK.
The Methods of Successful
 Farmers.
MARYLAED'S GREAT PACKING INDUSTRY.
Baskets are superoeding Barrels for
 Shipping Purposes.

Tn the handling of farm truck, |" said dealer, changes go on with the demands of the times, as in all other branches of business. The packing houses of Maryland employ an army of workers in the busy season-just how many do not know, but considerably over 10, 900. Then the truckers them selves, the pickers or gatherers, the ex- tra hands to convey the truck to the wharves, the extra men employed on steamboats and railroads, the sorters. trinmers and packers, the commission merchants, the sellers, the buyers or order men, the wagoners and their ; helpers, and the tally keepers will make fully 10, 900 or 12, GOO more persons who are given employment by the truck business in its season.
 Within year or so great change has been made in the manner of ship ping fruits and vegetables, particularly that class which does not bear a great deal of handling. Time was when the old flour barrel, with holes cut in it's sides by means of a hatchet, and the oblong tomato box, with its two com partments, reigned supreme. Both of these have now abdicated in favor of the splint basket, and though the old style of packages is still frequently seen, its reign is over.
 The box,N holding about seven-eighths of bushel, was largely used in ship ping peaches, tomatoes, peas, pears and fruits and vegetables of that class. The growers, however, found that the half bushel splint basket presented much more attractive appearance, be- sides which the fruit could be examined with such readiness that the basket of fruit brought just as much as the box, though it contained nearly a peck less.
 Hike wise men the growers adopted the half bushel basket for shipping their fruit and tomatoes. Half barrel and barrel baskets of the same order have largely replaced barrels and crates for the shipping of peas, beans, kale, spin ach, apples, etc. They are cheaper than new barrels, though they cannot well compete with old ones The splint baskets are also made for ship ping bananas, being made in size to hold one, two and three punches of the fruit. Their great point of superiority is ightness and strength rather than cheapness. A basket that will hold a barrel of apples will weigh just about half as much as an old flour barrel, and in shipping produce long distances they save good deal in freight charges.
 "A strawboard half bushel basket is also used, but this produce, men say, is not very satisfactory, particularly if the weather happens to be damp. The splint baskets are made in Baltimore. A poplar or gum log which has been thoroughly steamed, and which is as long as the basket is high, is put into machine which clamps it tightly, lathe fashion, at each end. This revolves, and long knife is pressed against the log, cutting of a shaving or veneer about one-sixteenth of an inch thick. As the shaving comes off it passes into @ clipping apparatus, which cuts the shaving into strips This and the saw ing out the round bottoms of the bas- kets are the principal parts of the work done by machinery. Putting them to- gether is largely done by hand. Bal timore Sun.