The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-17
PACKING APPLES
IN MODEL PLANT
States Demonstration
School At InwOod In
Full Swing Now

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. sept.
1.-THE apple packing plant at In
wood, which is being operated by
the extension division OF the West
Virginia University not only as
demonstration school in packing
but as a commercial packing plant
that pays its own way, Is now IN
Z full operation with q daily output OF
about 600 barrels. II Is In charge
OF H. w. Prettyman, horticultural
extension specialist OF the unIVer-
Bity, and classes are being sent
through the plant every week;
The Inwood Fruit Growers club
a the Berkeley County Farm gu
eau, furnishes all the fruit for the
use OF the packing house. All the
growers in this club use the "Jt ..
NY Appleseed Brand and pay ,Ie
actual cost of packing and selling
the goods. The fruit Is pooled by
varieties and growers are advanced
about so per cent. OF the price OF
the fruit By the firm that acts as =
KEELING agency. Returns are made
On each car and there is general
settlement made at the end ,ot
each variety season. The settle.
usaut is made by the selling agent
in turn, makes settlement with the
Individual growers who supplied
ks, apples. They are paid accord
ing ITO their various grades, o!
7 course.
The one week OF intensive train.
Ing by students in this plant Is sure
Ito be worth great deal to every
man or woman who wants prepare.
ton for work with fruit; Both nen
and women are included among the
students and are paid "A nominal
sum for Their time while lcarniEe
the things that the plant has to OIL
fer them. One Of the most import
ant things that is emphasized to
the student is that it Is not only
the quality OF the fruit but the ap.
pearance or the finished package
by proper facing" uI fruit amG
proper grading as to size that sells
he apple. Unusual care ~ taken
in the pack put out under the
Johnny Appleseed Brand.
The first day is spent ny the slut
dest stacking barrels, putting in the
fbarrel heads and s;enciling them.
Z 1e makes general inspection OF
ffssa. plant. notes how fruit is re-
eeiy&5d when IL arrives from the
yariodlls orchards and what record
a maSle of It. The second day he
sorts tffpples and picks 'facers' for
barreIsf or baskets. The third day
Is e.thelr devoted 10 putting lids Oh
hpgkets or heads in the finished
barrels. $The fourth day he faces
barrels OH finishes" baskets, learn.
ing how 9he finished package CON
tributes towards selling. The fifth
day he turns to the bookkeeping
on the pilcEing floor. checks the
fruit as 1t comes in and also helps
rechock It. as to grade. He checks
the fruit into the car when loading
begins ana learns the various rec.
ords OF other operations that must
be kept THE sixth day he turns to
the general scheme Of operation,
learns how the work of the cooper
alive fruit growers club Is carried
Z on and how the club does business
with the company that markets the
product. This sixth days work Is
expected to complete his course OF
trdining.
The packing plant has been
growers Of the Inwood region and
Inc demonstration packing school
has already established its popu-
larity. While the plant does. not
have a capacity output the tnstaIla'
{ tion OF the additional grading ma
chimes will increase the daily OUT
put to at least goo barrels.
The bins Of the plant hold cars
OF canning apples and 3 cars OF c.,
der apples. The warehouse has
space for 1900 filled barrels and
10000 empties.
The plant has been visited by IT.
terested individuals and delcEt
tions Of fruit growers from man!
sections OF West Virginia and az