STRAWBERRY CULTURE. 61 



In the first days of strawberry growing in large quantities for market 

 growers were not as well provided for as we are to-da\\ The berries 

 were carried in bulk with the hulls taken off. Finding that they 

 would not keep long in this condition, the hulls were left on. 

 Finalh' thej' were put up in round quart boxes with a cover on them 

 and packed on top of each other in large square boxes, and although 

 this arrangement was an improvement on the old method, still it 

 failed to give satisfaction. The boxes were too tight and the berries 

 moulded badly. Then holes were cut in the sides, which preserved 

 the fruit a little better. Finally, the square, open baskets and crates 

 were introduced, the American among the first, which is still in use. 

 AVhen these baskets were first put upon the market they were quite 

 expensive. ^Manufacturers who had a monopoly of the business 

 sold them easilv at thirty-five to fort}' dollars per thousand, and they 

 were not A^ery plenty at those figures. To-da^', good baskets can be 

 bought for eight dollars per thousand, and still lower for cheaper 

 grades. These baskets are used for all kinds of berries, except the 

 blueberr}', which, on account of its small size, is still put up and 

 carried to market in the old style, round box with cover. Crates 

 can be purchased of an}' reliable market man in any of the large 

 cities for one dollar each, all fitted, each crate having three slats 

 and thirty-two quart baskets. This is the most convenient size. 

 Seven-eighths of the crates in use are of this size, and when a person 

 orders a crate of berries, it is understood to be a bushel or 32-quart 

 crate. They are made in various sizes and shapes — 40, 48 and 60 

 quarts — but these are too large for one man to handle easil}', beside 

 they are of bad shape to stow into a common express or grocer}' 

 wagon. 



We have made it a practice since the first days of our strawberry 

 growing, as soon as the plants were done blossoming or nearly 

 through, when the fruit begins to set, to mulch the vines thoroughly. 

 We go all over the piece and place straw or meadow hay between 

 the rows. This is done mostly to keep the berries clean, but it not 

 only does this, but keeps the ground moist and the berries grow 

 larger and better, and the plants remain in bearing for a longer time. 

 Pickers have to go over the ground every day or two and, where it 

 is treated in this way, they not only work faster, but keep their 

 clothes much cleaner than thev could if the straw was not there. I 

 never found any trouble in marketing a crop of strawberries. If 

 you are in a small town, beside supplying the village store-keeper, 



