HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 375 



PICKING AND PACKING. 



In picking use the so-called climax ten pound basket with 

 flat covers; these will hold eight pounds of fruit and can be 

 bought for about five cents each. Wait until the dew is off in 

 the morning, and gather only the ripest bunches of fruit. 

 Handle with care and don't disturb the bloom; if you do it will 

 injure the looks of the fruit. Place directly in the basket and 

 when nearly full carry to the packing table, where they will be 

 finished out and covered. 



If danger of frost occurs before the crop is fully ripened, 

 gather at once and use the green ones for jelly, which they 

 will make of the finest quality, while those which are 

 nearly ripe may be further developed by spreading in a light 

 warm room with a frequent sprinkling of lukewarm water. 

 These may be made of passable quality, but in marketing sell 

 them for just what they are and do not mark them as "Best Min- 

 netonkas." Pack nothing in light weight baskets, but guard 

 with jealous care the reputation for high fiavor and superior 

 quality attained by Minnesota grapes. 



Having but two years' practical experience in grape growing 

 I have drawn freely from such authorities as Munson, Budd, 

 Uogers and Parker also from original notes of my father and the 

 writings of Harris, Pearse, Latham, and Porter, of your Society, 

 to all of whom I would gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness. 



Mr. Stedman, from the committee on prize essays on straw- 

 berries and raspberries, reported that of the two essays handed 

 in they had selected the one prepared by Mr. Lyons as entitled 

 to the award. 



STEAWBEERY AND EASPBEEEY GEOWING IN 

 MINNESOTA. 



By John Lyons, Minneapolis. 



In looking over the program, I see the Society offers special 

 prizes for essays from young men under twenty- five years, and 

 as I am under that age, I propose to tell what I know about grow- 

 ing and marketing small fruits. 



It is a very diffcult matter to prepare an essay of this kind for 



