PACKING AND MARKETING FRUIT CHERRIES, CURRANTS, FIGS- us 



placed in 2-pound boxes or baskets (unreturnable), or be packed in 1 pound 

 punnets. Morellos sell best by the box, two layers only being placed in each, 

 and the weight of the fruit written on a card in each box with the name, 

 as well as on the outside. Choice cherries should be cut off the trees with scissors. 

 Morellos, especially, require this care, and they must have assumed a dark red colour 

 when picked. Cardboard boxes are often used for packing cherries, two layers being 

 placed in each, with the stems cut to about | inch in length. .For sending great dis- 

 tances the fruit should be packed in wood boxes, and growers must open communica- 

 tions with dealers abroad, for English cherries ripen when the fruit in Southern Europe 

 is over, and are superior to them in flavour. Similar remarks apply to plums and other 

 soft fruits. 



Currants. Both black and red currants are generally gathered by women, black 

 currants at the rate of 4d. to 8d. per half-sieve, according to the crop, and red at the 

 rale of 3d. The fruit must be coloured, yet not soft, before gathering, otherwise it will 

 smash and be almost useless when delivered in the market. The half-sieves should be 

 lined with paper, the fruit even in sample, sound, and free from leaves. A sheet of paper 

 should be placed over the fruit, taking care to have the nett weight 24 pounds any 

 lack of weight, or baskets inferior to sample, lowering the price enormously. The pack- 

 ages are finished with long green grass, kept firm with crossed sticks, the ends pushed 

 through the top of the baskets, and cut even. Each basket then only requires a label, 

 and is ready for the market. Salesmen generally supply baskets, and the requisite 

 ^-number should be ready in time, and as needed, otherwise picking may be delayed 

 and losses considerable, especially when the weather is critical. These remarks apply 

 to all soft fruits. Large, well-ripened red currants may be packed in 1 -pound punnets, 

 or small, neat boxes or baskets (not returnable). White currants may be packed 

 similarly for dessert. There is only a limited demand for small packages of currants. 



Figs. The fruit should be gathered before it is thoroughly ripe, but sufficiently so 

 for ripening in the course of two or three days. Figs should be placed in shallow 

 boxes 2 or 2 inches deep, on a layer of soft, clean, dry moss, or woodwool, then tissue 

 paper, laying each fruit in a soft fig (or vine) leaf, with the stalk uppermost, stopping 

 the spaces between the fruit with coloured tissue paper, to make firm. Cover the fruit 

 with a few vine leaves, then tissue paper, and over this enough packing to keep the 

 whole tight when the lid is tacked down. The box should be large enough to hold 

 1 dozen fruits in a single layer. When opened, and the upper packing removed, the 



