GATHERING AND SELLING THE STRAWBERRY CROP. 237 



The frviit grower must be prepared to haudle his berries promptly, 

 and know just what to do with them as soon as ripe. All boxes and 

 cases should be provided beforehand and pickers engag-ed. Your 

 boxes and cases should be well made, clean and neat, without stain or 

 dirt. Never use old or second hand boxes and cases, as the looks of a 

 package has a good deal to do with selling the fruit. Let your boxes 

 be well filled and dont put poor fruit in the bottom. Sort out all im- 

 perfect, soft or green fruit and throw it away. You cannot be too 

 strict in the picking and handling of the strawberry crop. Get 

 your berries on the market early in the morning; if sent by express, 

 thej'' should go on the first train in the morning or late the after- 

 noon before and be ready for the earlj^ morning trade. If a large 

 shipper, I would not send the whole shipment to one house, but 

 divide them up between two or three good firms. In that way they 

 are all sold early in the morning and bring the top price. Berries 

 for long shipment should be picked before fully ripe, and not when 

 wet with dew or rain. If the weather is hot, leave them in a cool 

 place for some time before packing in cases and shipping. Cases 

 should be neatly directed on both ends, and your own stencil on 

 the sides or top. If you have long shipments to make, grow only 

 such varieties as will reach their destination in good order. Ship 

 to small towns only on regular orders and at agreed prices. 



Always bear in mind that choice fniit is always in demand at 

 good prices, and the market never overstocked; and that poor fruit 

 never sells well, brings low prices, and the market is easily over- 

 stocked; that it costs as much to raise poor fruit, costs more to pick 

 poor fruit; that it costs as much to box and case poor fruit; that 

 express charges are just as high on poor fruit, and when sold it is 

 after good fruit is gone, and then at half price. Another thing in 

 marketing berries is to pick them before they are over-ripe, es- 

 pecially if you want to ship them a long way to market. I require 

 vay pickers to throw away all berries over-ripe or soft. 



Some fruit growers lose a great deal of their profits by under- 

 taking to top their berries out with a better variety of berries. Now, 

 whatever else you do, let the quality be as good at the bottom as at 

 the top. Whether your customers be high or low, rich or poori 

 give them good measure and good fruit. You had better take the 

 poor berries and throw them away than to undertake to get them to 

 market, because it ruins your reputation and ruins the balance of 

 the fruit. 



Mr. G. J. Kellogg: I would like to ask Mr. Sampson if he 

 grades his fruit? 



Mr, C. W. Sampson: I pick all the berries I think are 

 marketable. 



Mr. Kellogg: Would it not pay to separate the large vari- 

 ties? 



Mr. C. W. Sampson: Perhaps it would. 



