THE GRAPE. 35 



THE MARKETING OF GRAPES. 



The best way of sending Grapes to market is a 

 matter which often causes some anxiety. It is of the 

 utmost importance to the vendor of fruit that what he 

 sends to the seller is thoroughly well packed, so that 

 no fault can be found, which, by-the-bye, is frequently 

 done with a view to get the lot at a cheaper rate, and 

 sometimes to get it for nothing. I have experienced 

 some of these dodges, and would like to caution the 

 reader against them if he has any fruit to send to 

 market. 



As regards sending home-grown grapes to market 

 so as to present them with as much of the bloom on 

 them as it is possible to do, take baskets holding, say, 

 not more than twenty pounds each. These may or may 

 not contain cross-handles ; but I think handles afford a 

 facility for carrying, as then one person can carry one 

 basket without much strain. The fruit being ready, 

 take the baskets into the vinery in the afternoon, when 

 the fruit will be dry, and having a nice lot of perfectly 

 dry lawn-mowings of rather a long growth (say 5 or 

 6 inches) which have been made in the sun some time 

 before put some of it all round the sides of the 

 baskets to form a padding. Then place some packing 

 or tissue-paper on the hay, and turn the basket on one 

 end, a little slanting. Then let a second man cut the 

 bunches and bring them to the one holding the basket ; 

 place each bunch endways, i.e. the stalks of each 

 bunch uppermost placing the bunches as close together 

 as they can possibly lie, and continue to do so till 

 each basket is nearly filled, and when near the top let 



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