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56 BOARD OF AGKICITLTURE. 



during the berry season, when the fruit must be handled quickly and at 

 the right time to realize a profit. All crates that will be needed should 

 l»e made during the winter. They should be made of heavier material 

 tlian the ordinary shipping crate. If taken care of they will last several 

 seasons. The sectional crates are best for the local market, especially 

 in selling fancy berries. The quarts may be filled fuller without the 

 top berries being mashed, thus aading to their appearance. The sections 

 may be taken apart when on the miU'ket, showing each quart and making 

 a finer display, which means more profitable sales. If, however, the 

 common style crate is used they should be made higher and the parti- 

 tions also higher, which will help to prevent mashing the fruit. All 

 crates sl)ould be painted one color and this color continued from year to 

 year. It will make them look neat and new. It will act as a sort of 

 trademark. The painted crates will attract the people's attention and be 

 a good advertisement. No doubt there will be no other grower in that 

 market who will go to the trouble and expense. But it pays and helps 

 to build up the home market. It also prevents some men from selling 

 your berries when he does not handle them, as his customers can see 

 that he does not have the colored crates and they will go where they are 

 —that is if a reputation for fine berries has been built up. All baskets 

 must be ordered early so as to have them on hand when the season 

 commences. Plenty should be bought, as to run short in the busy season 

 always means a loso 



A good roomy packing-shed is indispensable. The size will be deter- 

 mined by the acreage of berries. It should be made so that parr, at 

 least, can be closed per.fectly tight. Into thi^ part the fruit can be kept 

 during a rainy time, such as much of the past season, and the room 

 closed, the berries keeping much better by thus excluding the dampness. 

 If the berries are perfectly dry it is best to .keep them from the air at any 

 time as much as possible, so as to have them retain their color. 



In order to be In direct communication with our customers in the 

 local market at any time the packing shed should be connected by tele- 

 phone. By this means we can watch the picking, grading and packing, 

 thus knowing in what condition our berries are sent to market and at the 

 same time know how the fruit is selling. The phone Is a money makei 

 for the strawberry grower and is one of the essentials to the successful 

 building up and making the home market profitable. 



The next thing would be to decide definitely, as far as possible, upon 

 the method of disposing of the fruit. It is a good plan, and no doubt is 

 the best and most profitable, for the small grower to sell direct to the con- 

 sumer. While this plan has its advantages it also has its disadvantages, 

 and I believe is not as practical for the grower of more than an acre as 

 some others. While by selling direct the grower usually realizes the 

 retail price for his fmit, saves part of the expense for the baskets and 

 crates, and the berries ordinarily reach the consumer in better condition. 



