FRUIT PACKAGES. 303 



son, should be superseded as soon as possible by baskets 

 that permit circulation of air. \Ve should use boxes cheap 

 enough to be given away with the fruit. There is a box of 

 this kind, called the '' Sunnyside fruit-box," which can be 

 obtained for about ^10 per 1000. The purchaser sees a 

 pretty box of fruit at a shop, buys and takes it with him, 

 and is at no trouble to return the box. The present fre- 

 quent practice of pouring the fruit into b^o^vn-paper bags is 

 villanous. 



Mr. J. T. Budd, of Wilmington, Del., in a sensible letter, 

 gives several excellent reasons why it would be better, and, 

 in the end, cheaper, to use such cheap crates and baskets 

 that one could afford to let them go with the fruit. The 

 expenses of transportation would thus be reduced, and the 

 prices of the berries enhanced, not only because the pur- 

 chaser would not have the trouble of returning packages, 

 but chiefly for the reason that the fruit would always ap- 

 pear in fresh, new baskets, instead of those soiled, and often 

 musty, from long use. Mr. Budd shows that, in Delaware, 

 crates and baskets could be made sufficiently cheap for this 

 practice. 



PICKING. 



Having procured the baskets which suit us best, the next 

 thing is to fill them properly, and get them into market 

 looking fresh and attractive. It is just at this point that 

 very many wrong themselves, or permit themselves to be 

 wronged. The time is past when all strawberries will sell 

 as such, at so much per quart. Appearance often doubles 

 the price, or makes it difficult to sell the fruit at all. Soiled, 

 muddy berries, even though large, will fetch but wretched 

 prices ; therefore the importance of mulching. The fruit 

 may be in beautiful condition upon the vines and yet be 



