The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-25
SNAKE RIVER FRUIT.
Picking, Packing and Hauling, and the
Methods Now I'm Use.
Spokane Spokesman.

Spokane Spokesman.
A Spokesman reporter was recently on
a number of fruit farms along Snake riv-
er. At Wawawai the fruit crop was found
TO be equal TO the best. The Snake River
Fruit Growers Association have "A large
farm here, which, soon as the new orch,
ards begin bearing and few changes are
made, will be an excellent piece of prop
erty. At present they are doing an enor-
nous business. In their large packing
house one is fronted by a young army Of
the mixed sex, which is engaged In pack
ing the fruit. Peaches is the main crop
at present. and it is also the hardest to
handle. Every peach boxed for shipment
must be wrapped TO prevent 1t from being
ruined by transportation. 1t is also nee
essary to sort and Gull all fruit.
First there is crew of men which goes
through the peach orchard with long lad
ders. AS soon as a basket is full and
one must generally pick over number of
trees before this is done. IL is put in the
shade OF a tree or in the wagon which
conveys the fruit to the packing house.
When the hauler has a load he conveys IL
to the packing house and strings the bas-
kets along the tables where the packers
are at work. and reloads the empty bas-
kets and returns 10 the orchard to generl
ally find another load awaiting him The
packers. who are generally pretty girls
boys and old people. have before them two
and sometimes three boxes. all varying I'm
size, and into these they put the peaches
after wrapping them with paper All the
large peaches go into the large boxes and
the smaller ones 10 their box. This is done
that each peach In every box shall be
bound in securely, so they do not have
any chance for Jolting. Two layers of
peaches is ali that can be shipped in one
box. for IL there were more they would
mash each other. There Is always large
amount OF the fruit which is picked too
ripe or which has been bruised or the
skin broken by mishandling: all of such
IS culied out and Is taken TO the dryer or
sold TO the local trade. IL is necessary TO
pick the fruit rather green when 10 is 10
be shipped for If left until ripe enough
for immediate use IL would spoil before
reaching the outer markets. When a box
is filled IL is taken TO the mailer who tacks
on the lid and carries IL away 10 its re-
spectivs place. where 10 is labeled and
marked for shipment, and is finally con-
veyed 10 the depot or wharf for shipment
TO the outer world.
Apples are not handled with such care.
They are brought into the packing house
in orchard boxes, and If they are clean
poured from the rough orchard boxes into
new boxes. which hold about fifty pounds,
but sometimes they too must be sorted
They are not weighed. for every box must
bef1lied heaping fun and the lid put on
with a press. This is done that even
though roughly handled the apples will
not Jolt about loosely. The apple barrel
is now coming in favor, and 10 will not
be long before all the apples OF the river
will be shipped in them. Barrels are
cheaper, for they can be made quicker
and the material in them does not cost as
nsaci as that LA the boxes. and IL is