204 Strawberry-Growing 



fruit is lost in the pool, and may be tempted to cut 

 down the cultural operations to the lowest possible point 

 that will enable him barely to get his berries into 

 the pool. 



The most difficult feature is to secure a uniform pack. 

 Wlien the growers live close together, and the quantity 

 of berries shipped is not large, it may be possible to use 

 one or more central packing houses. This method is 

 more expensive than packing on the farm, and good roads 

 are essential. In most cases it is necessary to pack on the 

 farm. The association may train a body of packers and 

 send them to the different members; or it may supply 

 each member with printed picking and packing rules. 

 In either case, the brand of the association is stamped 

 upon the crate only after it has been inspected at the car 

 door. Rejected berries are turned back to the grower for 

 such disposition as he may wish ; some associations con- 

 sign them. The wholesale market wants straight car- 

 lots of a single variety and grade. The most successful 

 associations ship one variety almost exclusively, as the 

 Klondike in Louisiana, the Aroma in Missouri and the 

 Clark in Oregon. This means that the organization 

 should be local, composed of neighbors with similar con- 

 ditions of soil and climate and the same varieties. The 

 more compact it is, the easier it will be to secure uni- 

 formity in pack and unanimity concerning the conduct 

 of the association. 



Sales methods in an association. 



The utmost importance is attached to the choice of a 

 business manager. Secure an experienced business man 

 from elsewhere, preferably one who has been identified 

 with the wholesale produce trade. If he is to serve the 



