Packages 145 



American ventilated crates, since they have fewer pieces, 

 and no racks or divisions are placed between the layers 

 of boxes (Plate XIII). The covers of most gift crates 

 are nailed on, but it is better to have them hinged with 

 strap iron, as this permits the easy inspection of the 

 crates, which is an aid in making sales. The gift crate 

 should be light, but substantial enough to carry the fruit 

 without damage; some are constructed of very flimsy 

 material. 



Size, 



The size of the crate, like the size of the box, depends 

 on the distance that the fruit is to be shipped and the 

 preference of the market. The farther the shipper is from 

 market the smaller should be the crate, as the berries 

 carry better. This is the chief reason why twenty-four 

 or sixteen quart crates are used almost universally in the 

 Mississippi Valley and westward, while thirty-two quart 

 crates, or larger, are preferred in the East. Use the 

 largest crate that can be handled conveniently and that 

 will carry the berries safely ; the larger the crate the less 

 it costs a box and the lower the expense of packing. The 

 thirty-six quart crate is preferred by some, especially in 

 New York ; it is better to make sales from than the thirty- 

 two quart crate, since twelve baskets are exposed to the 

 buyer ; but it cannot be handled easily by one man. The 

 largest gift crate now used to any extent is the sLxty-quart, 

 which has four layers of fifteen quarts each. This has been 

 popular in the Norfolk district for over fifty years. Two 

 men are required to lift it, so it cannot be banged around 

 like a light crate. The sixty quart size is a convenient 

 unit for the wholesale trade ; most retailers in small towns 

 can use that quantity at a time. The sixty-four, forty- 



