STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 77 



condition, and find a ready market — the leaves all green and bright, in 

 contrast with a package badly put up, where the lettuce is more or less 

 bruised and broken, the radishes are wilted, and the leaves so bruised as 

 to have turned black. The former is eagerly sought for, while the latter 

 can scarcely be given away. Both these packages have cost the same, and 

 the freight is the same ; yet there is no sale for the latter. Is there any 

 wonder at poor returns ? 



As the season advances, we get pie-plant, onions, beets, asparagus, 

 peas, beans, cucumbers, cabbages, and the like, each needing its own spe- 

 cial preparation, cleansing, bunching, etc. A volume might be written 

 upon this subject, going into details ; to particularize would make this 

 article too long. 



I will add, however, that to these and others the same general prin- 

 ciples will hold good in gathering, packing, etc. They should be gath- 

 ered before being warmed and wilted by the heat of the sun ; such a 

 condition renders them unfit for human food, and they are only fit to help 

 discolor and give odor to the Chicago river. 



Each variety should be packed separately, so that the odor of one 

 may not be imparted to others. Perhaps no vegetables are so difficult to 

 ship in warm weather as spinach, peas and beans. The former should 

 not be washed before shipment, simply the yellow leaves and roots trim- 

 med off, and then well shaken, to sift out any dust ; thus prepared, it may 

 make a twelve-hour trip by express in a barrel. Peas and beans should 

 be thoroughly dry and cool when packed ; the packages not to exceed 

 one bushel, and smaller packages used if the trip is over twelve to 

 fifteen hours. Asparagus may be shipped in a package containing one 

 bushel, yet a smaller one is preferable; a one-third bushel box will pack 

 nicely two to two and a half dozen, and may be so arranged, by uniform 

 size and length of bunch, as to be very attractive, and thus invite 

 purchasers. 



In harvesting these various products of toil, the aim and thought of 

 the packer should not only be how nice these things are and appear now, 

 but his thoughts should run ahead, and his mind should grasp the end, 

 and so should he use his skill that he may find the market in the best pos- 

 sible condition ; not only this, but he may increase his markets, suiting 

 the packing and package to the farther markets. 



Get a live, honest man to handle your produce ; keep in constant 

 and regular communication with him ; be ready for any emergency ; have 

 your packages made before you need them. A few days of warm weather 

 often push your crop ahead ; something must be done, and done quickly, 

 then; be sure it is well done, or throw your stuff away. It will be easier 

 to bear this loss than a probably greater by shipping out of condition in 

 quantities too large for your markets. 



Each package should be uniform for the different kinds of vegetables, 

 neatly made, kept bright and clean, and marked plainly with stencil the 

 quantity in each, with your own stencil. You thus make your own cus- 

 tomers, who will deal with you if you but deal fairly with them. 



