138 3Iississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



weight for transportiition, and not too large for any dealer of any conse- 

 quence to dispose of to advantage. 



In making up the quart boxes, the tacks should always be driven upon an 

 iron surface, so that the points shall become well clinched ; and, when the 

 Hallock or square box is used, be certain to use a sufficient number of tacks 

 to prevent the bottom from falling down, making the box appear to be slack 

 filled, crushing the berries in the lower box and greatly depreciating their 

 value. 



When making up the Leslie, or long box, always place the checked side of 

 the bottom upward, otherwise it is liable to break down with the same result. 

 Berry boxes should, in all cases, be made up a sufficient length of time be- 

 fore they are needed for use, to enable them to become thoroughly seiisoned, 

 otherwise they are certain to arrive in the market in a heated condition, 

 making it impossible to sell them, except to a second-class trade at a second- 

 class price; and many a poor commission merchant has been accused of neg- 

 lect or dishonesty because of the lack of a knowledge of this fact upon the 

 part of the shipper ; and here permit me to say that all fruit and vegetable 

 packages should be thoroughly seasoned before bemg used, for the same 

 reason. 



The red raspberry, being of a more delicate nature, should be packed in 

 the shallow pint box, and is now almost universally shipped in twenty-four- 

 pint cases. 



Plums, apricots, nectarines and other articles of this class, carry and sell 

 well in the third-bushel box, and tomatoes should always go to market in 

 the same style of package. 



For grapes, the most convenient and best selling package known is a ten- 

 pound basket with a wooden cover that extends over each end, tucks under 

 the hoop, and is fastened with a tack. These baskets may be piled one ujjon 

 another without crushing the grapes, and are now in almost universal use in 

 all the large grape-grcwing districts. 



String beans and green peas should be shipped in bushel boxes, and canta- 

 loupes, or nutmeg melons, in crates containing one dozen melons, the size of 

 the package being determined by the size of the melons. 



In all cases avoid the use of return packages, as they are expensive, re- 

 quiring a considerable outlay at the beginning of the season, and are seldom 

 returned to the producer until the season is over, and then in a dilapidated 

 condition, making it necessary to repair and store them until the next crop 

 is ready for market, when they have become so stained and weather-beaten 

 as to render them uninviting to the eye of the purchaser, and, consequently, 

 an unprofitable package in which to market your products. 



The third-bushel box that is the best adapted to the use of the horticultur- 

 ist is the one of whirh the side is composed of a single piece, as the openings 

 at the corners aflbrd sufficient ventilation, and the fruit is not so liable to be- 

 come damaged as that packed in the box with two .slats upon the side. 



When placing your fruits or vegetables upon the market, always place 



