Chapter VII 

 Disposition of the Crop 



The vineyardist is never more anxious or at his wits end, to know just what to do, than when 

 his crop of grapes is ripe, unless he has well prepared himself for this event. 



If he is growing to sell fresh in the market, he has grown only the most attractive, prolific 

 and good shipping varieties of red, black and white colors covering the entire grape season of his 

 region. 



He must realize, that appearance on the fruit stands, means almost everything in making 

 sales to start with. Next, .the quality must be so good that a customer always wants more of 

 the same. 



The appearance in market depends not alone on the fruit but is greatly heightened by the 

 style of package, display, etc. The display depends upon the manner of package and packing, and 

 the system, taste, and facilities of the house selling the fruit; hence the shrewd business grape 

 grower will have provided all these things in advance, before his crop is ready for harvest. He 

 will have visited the markets into which he expects to enter and become acquainted with the best, 

 reliable houses; observed and learned what are the best packages, arranged to ship to his chosen 

 houses, preferably by direct sale to them, and have laid in sufficient stock of packing material 

 for the season and had it made up ready for use in the packing sheds. 



He will have engaged his help to harvest and pack, with experts enough to regulate the 

 whole, when the time comes. 



Proper strong gathering baskets will have been provided, and sufficient packing-shed room 

 to allow the crop to be handled carefully and securely from sudden showers, with room enough 

 for all help to retreat out of rain. 



The pickers take and distribute their gathering baskets along under the rows ready to be 

 picked and, with picking shears, take off carefully each cluster and lay it in the basket without 

 handling so as to retain the bloom, and only such persons should pick as know at what stage of 

 ripeness to gather. 



If the crop is of considerable extent, a spring wagon, with one horse that can pass between 

 the rows, collects the baskets and delivers them in the packing house without jolting. 



The packers take up the clusters by the stem, one at a time, and with small pairs of sharp 

 scissors clip out all defective and green berries, if any, and place the clusters in regular layers in 

 the baskets so as to finish off smoothly and compactly so that the lid will require pressing down 

 somewhat to reach its proper place, if a single basket. The four pound basket is now generally 

 preferred to eight and ten pound baskets by dealers, as they sell entire to most customers and 

 save weighing out as well as having remnants left in baskets, w r hich is generally lost when the 

 fruit is weighed out in small quantities. If the four basket crates are used, they should be full 

 enough to have the cover fit closely against the fruit. The packages should be clean and bright, 

 well and neatly made and tops securely fastened so as to endure any reasonable handling without 

 harm. The marking should be done with neat rubber stamps and each day the shipments for 

 the next day or two ahead should be determined. If in the business to stay one should have a 

 trade-mark brand. 



All the subject of selling fruits fresh, has so often and thoroughly been written up in Horti- 

 cultural Journals and books, and the different styles are so well represented in city markets, that 

 there is little need of repeating in books to-day. A few hints are sufficient for any beginner that 

 will ever make a success and I let it go at that. 



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