Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-24

is solicited. Address all communications In
tSnoeo Tor this department to HENRY ID
ocrst. Paris. Ne.
Packing Apples In Boxes.
Contributed by Alton NJ. Porter OF South Paris
student In the Michigan Agricultural College
to the Michigan Farmer)
The fruit grower who is producing
apples of extra high quality finds the
barrel not adapted to his needs. His
apples are tender, fine grained and deli
cstely colored, consequently their flesh
is easily bruised and their general ap
pesrance marred. This man needs a
package that will carry each individual
apple to its destination without injury
and will make an attractive appearance
on opening. The bo2 is the package
that be should use rather than the
barrel. This is the package that is being
used almost entirely BY the western fruit
growers and has already been adopted
by many of the eastern ones.
STYLE OF BOX TO USE.
There are two styles of boxes used,
the standard" and the especial" with
inside dimensions of 10 1-2x11 1-2x1S
inches, and 10xl1x20 inches respective.
ly. Because of the wide variation in the
sizes of apples it was found necessary to
use both styles of boxes in packing the
fruit. In order to make the box a very
attractive package it must be made from
lumber that is free from knots and dress
ed on the outside. To protect the fruit
and keep it clean the boxes are lined on
bottoms, tops and sides with plain white
II oF he
paper should be placed in the box very
carefully and should overlap on the top
and bottom about one-third of the width
of the box. In order to guard against
tearing fold is made in the paper at
the lower corner to allow for the bulge.
After this is done the box is ready to be
packed.
All boxed apples should be wrapped
in light manila paper, smooth or glazed
on one side and rough on the other. The
rough side being next to the fruit ab-
serbs any moisture that may appear Oh
the surface and the glazed side prevents
the entrance of moisture, dirt and germs
from the outside. The size of the wrap
per varies with that of the fruit, al
though 10 to II inches square will be
sufficient size for all ordinary boxed
apples. A good grade of paper OF this
| size should be purchased for 80 to so
cents per thousand.
| WRAPPING THE APPLES.
To wrap an apple smoothly and with
out waste of time requires considerable
practice, although the operation in itself
| is simple. There are several different
| methods used by the packers, but the
one that / will give a detailed descrip-
ton of is the simplest. The paper is
placed in the left hand with the thumb
and little finger pointing toward oppo-
site corners. The apple is thrown into
the center of the paper and the thumb
is brought up over il as far as possible,
bringing in the corner of the paper at
the same time. II the fruit is to be
packed on end il should be thrown bios
som end down. 1t should never oe
thrown stem end down as this would
tear the paper and spoil the general ap-
pearance of the box. The next move
ment is made with the right hand as II
gathers a second corner between the
extended thumb and forefinger and folds
il In with a sliding motion of the hand.
The fingers of the left hand now sweep
upward and backward, bringing in the
third corner. The left hand should now
roll the fruit from the packer, using
the right hand as bed. In this manner
the fourth and last corner is folded 10
over the fruit. The apple is now being
| held in the thumb and the first three
fingers of the left hand and is in the
| exact position to be placed in the box.
| THE STYLE OF PACK.
In packing the box two styles are
used. the square and the diagonal. VI
these two the latter is much to be pre-
ferred, because it does not bruise the
apples nearly as much as the other style.
The square pack which was formerly IN
yery general use has been discarded ex-
cept when an occasional size or shape
will not come out right when packed oil
agonally. The diagonal pack has TWO
systems of packing, the three-two ano
the two-two. To more fully descrioe
these systems we might state the NUMBER
of apples per layer we are packing. Then
the systems would read two-two, twenty
four or three-two, thirty, etc.
METHOD OF PACKING.
In starting the first layer OF the three
two pack, place an apple in each OF the
lower corners of the box and a third
apple about half way between these TWO.
The fourth and fifth apples are then
placed in the spaces between these
three. This leaves three spaces 10
which three or more are placed, and so
on till the layer is completed. Ihe
other LAYERS are then placed in the ooA
by putting an apple over each OF tue
spaces of the previous layer.
The two-two pack is started oy
placing an apple in ono Of the lower
corners Of the box. The second apple
ia then placed about midway between
the first fruit and the side of the BOX.
The third and fourth fruits are placed Id
the spaces between the first two, ana 80
ON until the layer is finished. Each sue.
cesding layer should be placed so tnst
avery apple is over a space left by the
preceding LAYER of fruit. Layer paper
NAV or may not be used in the pacKing'
its chief use is to bring the apples up
high enough in the box 80 that tney wn'
pack firm and compact. After tue ooA
| is packed the next thing to do Is 10 pre-
pare it for shipment.
HOW TO GET THE BULGE.
To prevent the fruit from oecomin
loose in the box, it is packed an inon
and half higher in the middle than on
the ends. When the box is placed on
the press and the top nailed down tnis
inch and half is distributed between
the top and bottom, making three
fourths of an inch bulge on both siaes.
Di ifferent packers get this bulge in dine,-
eut WAYS, but the two principal methods
are as follows: W Pack the apples
tighter in the central part of each layer,
and when the cover is nailed on the
apples will press together more at tne ,s
ends than in the middle and as resni'
we get the bulge; (2) selecting larger
apples for the middle part OF each layer
After the box is all packed and READY
| TO ship the only thing remaining 10 90 is
TO label il. An attractive label pasted
on the end of the box is the best adver-
tisipp agent the fruit grower can pro
|, duce. The label should not be gaudy
but should give information such o.
; growers name, variety OF apple ana sne
f-.,;t, in, fha h0X.