Picking and Packing 173 



In Florida and southern California, the harvest ex- 

 tends over a long period and the daily pickings are not 

 heavy; hence it often is necessary to pay three cents a 

 quart. In late autumn, everbearing strawberries ripen 

 very slowly and three cents is a fair price. Toward the 

 end of the season, when berries run small and prices are 

 low, allow families to go into the field and pick on shares, 

 giving them one quart in four. In this way no money 

 need be paid out and part of the crop is disposed of at a 

 fair profit. 



GRADING 



The grading of strawberries is mostly a development of 

 the past ten years. Before then they were shipped, for the 

 most part, about as they were picked from the vines ; only 

 the nubbins were rejected. Whether the berries are graded 

 in the field or in a shed, or not graded at all, it is necessary 

 to have some kind of temporary receiving station where 

 they can be examined and put in the shade as soon as pos- 

 sible. For field grading, the sheds should be located where 

 the pickers can bring in the berries most conveniently; 

 there should be one shed for every four or five acres. 



Secure as cool a location as possible ; hot fingers "muss" 

 the berries. Most packing sheds are temporary, inex- 

 pensive structures. It is essential that there should be 

 free circulation of air and protection from the sun. The 

 side that is open to receive the fruit should face the north ; 

 the other sides should be boarded down to within two feet 

 of the ground. Plate XVI shows common types of sheds. 



Topping. 



Strawberries were "topped" many years before they 

 were graded. Grading is an attempt to have all the 



