HARVESTING 



175 



too early the plants often start into growth too soon. Con- 

 sidering all materials, the clean straw is perhaps the best for 

 mulching. 



Fig. 85. — A well-graded crate of strawberries packed in square pint boxes. 

 (After Thompson, United States Department of Agriculture.) 



Harvesting. — The time of picking the strawberry depends 

 upon the distance they are to be shipped. When they are 

 grown for home consumption or for the local market they 



