20 THE BEGINNER'S GAP DEN BOOK 



it, vegetables that were not picked within twelve hours. 

 Rather use them at home. Start each day with a fresh 

 load, and build up a reputation. This, of course, does not 

 apply to cabbages, potatoes, and vegetables that similarly 

 keep a long time. And if you must offer vegetables for 

 sale a second time, freshen them overnight by washing or 

 watering them. But keep them from getting soggy, and 

 don't be surprised to learn that you are harming your trade. 



FIG. 14. Flowers or vegetables for the market should be kept fresh 

 in baskets. These are for expressing.] 



Pack vegetables carefully in separate baskets or boxes, 

 and keep them from the sun. 



Flowers for market should always be perfectly fresh. For 

 this purpose they should be picked as early as possible ; then, 

 before the ends of the stems have dried, they should be stood 

 in water for an hour. Thus they will keep longer. They 

 ought to travel in deep baskets, protected from injury, and 

 from the sun. 



The bunching of flowers for market should be done as care- 

 fully as for the house. They should be grouped so that colors 

 harmonize, and should not be too tightly bunched. A little 

 foliage should be used to prevent crowding and give the 

 appearance of naturalness. And it is well to pack the 

 bunches according to color harmony. They will sell the bet- 

 ter for this. 



