SMALL FRUITS. 351 



These boxes are immediately laid in the cases, and are never handled from 

 the time they are put in the new boxes. The boxes are filled heaping full, 

 as they will carry much better. They should be filled so full that the 

 cover of the case will press the top of the fruit down. In that way they 

 go to market much better than in any other. I use the five inch shallow 

 box. 1 believe that it is better. 



The main thing is to be strict in the picking of the fruit. It should be 

 picked every day. Another secret in marketing fruit is to pick it before 

 it is over-ripe. I require my pickers to throw away all berries over-ripe 

 or a little soft. "We anticipate the ripening of our fruit from ten to 

 twenty-four hours. This should be done especially by those living back 

 from the city, where it requires time to get the fruit to market. I expect 

 that my fruit will be picked a little before it is fully matured ; that is, 

 the strawberries are not over three-quarters ripe when I pick them. It is 

 so with all kinds of fruit. You cannot be too strict in the picking and 

 the handling of it. Many fruit growers lose a great deal of their profits by 

 undertaking 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 it 

 is at the top. Whether your customers be high or low, rich or poor, give 

 them good measure and good fruit. You had better take your poor fruit 

 and throw it away than to undertake to get it to market, because it ruins 

 your reputation and ruins the balance of the fruit. (Applause.) 



Dr. Frisselle: How do you manage the transportation by the express 

 company? 



Mr. Thayer: I place my fruit on the express car myself. It is taken to 

 the depot, and I have my men there place it in the express cars. 



