No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGK1CUL.TURE. 325 



suit his needs. But if, by reason of his location, he is compelled to 

 seek distant markets, then the question of what varieties he shall 

 grow, and what package he shall use becomes of the greatest im- 

 portance. As an example, take strawberries. You know some 

 handsome, luscious varieties which are excellent for the grower who 

 can haul them to market and sell them within a few hours, but which 

 are so soft and tender that they would be worse than useless to the 

 one who is supplying distant points. What is necessary in the latter 

 case is something that is hard and firm enough to stand transporta- 

 tion and present an attractive appearance when it reaches its des- 

 tination. 



Everything should be carefully sorted, and in most cases it will 

 pay to make two grades, which should be plainly marked on the 

 packages. Then they should be faced or topped out with some of the 

 brightest so as to show up handsome and attractive when opened 

 for sale. Use new, clean packages only, as a slovenly, dirty vessel 

 will spoil the appearance of the finest goods, and it is poor economy 

 to use them under any circumstances. If for no other reason, re- 

 turnable packages should be avoided, as they get weather stained 

 and dingy, and discredit your shipment at first sight. The gift 

 crate has many points of advantage. You estimate your crop and 

 buy crates enough to carry it, and avoid the unpleasant and unprofit- 

 able experience of going to the station for returned crates which 

 have not arrived, while your fruit is ripening at home and nothing 

 to ship in. If you always have a new crate your fruit will show at 

 its best, and the cost is not much, if any greater when you take into 

 consideration the baskets and divisions which are largely missing 

 and the proportion of crates which are sure to be lost every season. 



It would take too long to go over the different packages used for 

 various articles and the methods of packing in each case, and no 

 doubt this matter is more or less familiar to all present to-day, but 

 this principle should always be borne in mind, that any packages, 

 of whatever size or shape, used for shipping fruit or vegetables, 

 should be perfectly stiff and rigid. Any package which sags or 

 gives in any way, will cause the contents to become bruised in the 

 handling em^oute^ and either lessen their value or cause total loss. 

 I have an unpleasant recollection of receiving a consignment of 

 plums in slatted crates, where only one nail had been driven in the 

 end of each slat. The crates changed their shape every time they 

 were lifted, and the contents had gone to pulp and seeds by the time 

 they reached us. 



Before leaving the subject of packages, allow me to say a word in 

 regard to the disposition shown in the past few years to use scant 

 or short measures. The slang name here is "dinks." All will admit 

 that the "dink" was "conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity." 



