24 The Bulletin. 



larger ones. The package should be well filled and snugly packed, for 

 unless put up in this manner, the fruit will reach market in a very poor 

 condition. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



The state of maturity at which strawberries can best be picked depends 

 upon the market for which they are intended. Berries for the home 

 market can be gathered in a much riper condition than fruit intended 

 for shipping long distances. For distant markets, strawberries must be 

 gathered as soon as fully grown and the color well developed. The fruit 

 is picked, with stems on, into quart baskets or boxes and carried to the 

 packing shed on trays holding from six to twelve quarts. Carefully 

 trained pickers can do all the sorting and grading necessary as they 

 gather the fruit. They should be instructed to leave all small, inferior 

 and overripe fruits, and under no circumstances put specimens of this 

 kind in the baskets. Fruits of this kind give less trouble on the vines 

 than in the crates. Trained pickers can also "face" each basket, thereby 

 increasing the attractiveness of the package. This is easily done while 

 picking by placing the last layer of berries stem end down. Fig 12 

 shows two baskets of fruit as they reached the packing shed. Xo. 1 

 shows careful picking and "facing" ; Xo. 2 shows careless picking and 

 no regard whatever to the general appearance. 





<"»3 



I 



No. 1. — Carefully Picked and "Faced." Xo. 2. — Carelessly Picked. 



Fig. 12. — Berries as they Reached the Packing Shed. 



Berries should not be allowed to stand in the sun before being packed 

 in the crates. Either the 2-4 or 32-quart crates are equally popular pack- 

 ages on all markets, and growers must be governed entirely by their 

 experience as to which to use. Fig. 13 shows a standard 32-quart crate 

 of berries as it reached market. 



DEWBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES. 



Dewberries and blackberries should be picked when a full, glossy black. 

 Berries that have become dull-looking are too ripe for marketing. Dew- 

 berries and blackberries should not be picked when moist, either after 

 rain or heavy dew. The moisture causes development of moulds and 

 results in decay. The method of gathering this fruit differs from that 



