The Republican journal., 1904-07-21
PROPER PACKING OF APPLES.
Some Suggestions from a Veteran in the
Business.

Some Suggestions from Veteran in the
Business.
That packing has much to do with the
sale Of fruit will be readily conceded,
and no doubt some suggestions upon
the proper packing of apples will be
welcome at this season. Henry Seel,
the expert apple buyer of Benton Har-
Dor, Mich, with an experience of
twenty -tive years in handling the pro-
duets OF orchards, buying as many as
10000 barrels in single season, con-
tributes an illustrated article to the
last number of the National Fruit
Grower, and that journal says of him ::
III e is known as an expert in his line
and having made a success of the bust
ness his advice is of value to every
apple grower. He is a thorough be-
lever in spraying and will not waste
time to look at an orchard which has
not been thoroughly sprayed and taken
care Of The average fruit grower
loses large slice of the profits from
his orchards every year through negli-
gence in packing and the following
hints should receive the attention of
every fruit grower"
Nj. Seel describes the packing meth
DDS employed by him as follows:
eve make table three feet wide,
twelve feet long, using 2X4 inch scant-
lings for the sides and ends of the table
We then put heavy cloth over the top,
lacking the same down, and putting a
one-inch strip on top of cloth and nail
ing it to the scantllngslto make it firm
er. Apples are then picked and put on
the sorting table. packing them as fast
as they are picked. All red apples
should be we'll colored before picking.
''1n packing apples in barrels, drive
the hoops down and headline them,
putting four nails in each headline, two
nails in the hoops, clinching the nails
in the barrels. Take medium, even
sized apples to face with, lay apples
tight on face, sort the apples, putting
them in half bushel baskets. In empty
ing baskets into barrels, be careful not
to let them fall, but put the basket
into the barrel While emptying. shaking
the barrel we'll after emptying each
basket.
Fill the barrel one inch above the rims
as level as possible, press in the head of
barrel, nail on headline and hoops, lay
ing barrel down as soon as packed and
shipping as soon as possible. In packing
number one apples, take all good sound
dppltS. lice 1IoI1 NOlllS, SSdDS anu
bruises, pack the same way throughout
the barrel, If number one apples are
good crop, then pack the number one
and let all others 60 to drying houses
and cider mills, as it does not pay to
pack poor apples in barrels to put on
the market.
''Cultivate your orchards thoroughly,
spray them, give them care and atten-
ton and you will have no cause for COM
plant as to the prices the product will
return to you.
1.-The time has long since passed when
any kind Of care will do for the apple
orchard, as some growers now realize,
to their sorrow, and instances can be
found in every fruit producing section
of the United States that go to prove
that the apple orchard, properly cared
for, is better than government bonds
and as safe an investment, but after
the care, cultivation, spraying, etc, do
not neglect proper handling and pack
ing for market.
Establish a reputation for your
goods, by packing them honestly and
carefully and the investment will not
only pay you we'll, but you will find
people looking for your goods, rather
than your being obliged to seek mar
of -