The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-02-10

similar to blotting paper on the TOP
and bottom and between each layer.
Each apple is wrapped in duplex
paper, on which Is printed the trade
mark, Hood River Apple Growers
Union" Every apple in each box is
Of uniform size, that ia every apple
Is practically the same size as every
other apple,in the box. A packed box
should have a swell on both the top
aud bottom, that is the layers should
be higher In the middle than they
aIe at the end OF the box. In order
to do this 1t Is necessary to work in
apples that are slightly larger, though
not perceptibly so, in the middle OF
the layers, using the smaller sizes
at the ends OF the box, turning
the apples at the end OF the box so
that the smallest diameter will be
perpendicular, Some apples are
larger in diameter through the
side than they are from the stem
to the blossom end. The reverse Is
also true. Where the apple is longer
than 1t 10 wide we place the apples at
the end Of the box fiat, and where
the apple ls wider than it 10 long We
place the blossom or stem end up. 1t
is not only necessary, but atsol utely
essential that the spples at the end OF
the box should be on level with the
end of the box in order to prevent
bruising and 1t is also absolutely
necessary that there should be swell
on the top and bottom OF the box In
the middle, so that when the lid Is
nailed on there will be a spring TO
the lid at the top aud bottom Of the
box suottiientty to hold the apple es
tightly in place and prevent shaking
IN transit. The box should be packed
firmly with a swell of about one to
one and one quarter inches ON top
and bottom combined, in order to
insure against shaking loose. The
apples should be packed firmly but
not too tightly, which is very neoes-
sary because there ia a certain
amount of shrinkage, the result OF
evaporation.
When the box is nailed up the
grower puts on his association mum
Der with rubber stamp in the left
hand corner, ln the right hand
corner he stamps his name and post.
office address and the name OF his
orchard, il 1t has one. This is a
State law, which originated In Hood
River, the original bill being drafted
by Chris Dethman and myself, afSer.
wards introduced as bill ty Senator
Wheeldon aud made State law by
our legislature. Since then this
same law has been passed by the
States of Idaho and Washington, and
it is mighty good law tor two
reasons. 1t protects every district
and it advertises the product OF every
fruit section, assisting In this way
to create and demand and reputatio on
for fruit OF any locality it it Is good.
In the middle and at the top of the
end of the box the grower stamps on
the number of apples contained in
the box, the variety aud grade ID
Hood River we haul the apples to the
association ia wagons, fitted out with
springs, and every load is covered
with canvas to keep the dust from
the apples. In the Willamette Valley
where lived for great many years.
| might suggest that instead OF wrap.
ping paper for each apple they use
life preservers, instead of cBhvas
covering they use umbrellas and
instead of wagons with springs they
use boats to get the apples to the ware
house.
Hood River claims The honor, and
justly so, of adopting the first set OF
original rules aud printed instruc
tions about packing. picking, grading
and hauling. This claim is correct
know 1t because | wrote the original
rules myself, aud as a director of the
Union was chairman OF the com
mittee In 1908 that improved these
rules and brought them to their
present high state of perfection and
requirements. These rules have been
copied by nearly every other dist lot,
to our credit, and printed In nearly
every horticultural publication In the
Pacific Northwest which want TO say
Is certainly to the credit and glory
of Hood Rivers methods.
(Po be continued next week.