3*8 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



pounds; inside measurements length 18J inches, width 1 If inches, depth 5 inches. 

 The box is lined, the grapes placed in tightly, but not crushed, covered with a sheet of 

 paper, the sides folded over, then the lid put on and secured with tacks. Care is taken 

 to quite fill each box, some paper shavings, dry soft moss or woodwool being used at 

 the base when considered necessary, but no material, except paper, should be placed on 

 the fruit, for it is important that the boxes open well and show the quality of the grapes 

 at a glance. Grapes damaged in transit lose value. Common grapes frequently lose 

 half, and best grapes sometimes two-thirds off the prices they would have brought had 

 they been carefully packed or not been damaged in transit. Care also must be taken to 

 give good weight, stating this on a card inside as well as on the label outside the 

 package. 



Early grapes command good prices for a short time Black Hamburgs in April and 

 May, and Muscat of Alexandria's early in June. The early black grapes soon lose 

 colour and should be marketed before they become red. It is the same with late grapes, 

 and both lose weight by keeping. Assuming Gros Colinan to be at its best in November 

 or December, every 100 pounds of grapes kept until March loses 25 pounds, therefore 

 100 pounds of grapes sold in December at 2s. per pound = 10, are almost as valuable 

 as 75 pounds in March at 3s. 6d. per pound = 13 2s. 6d. often more so when 

 depreciation from decay and bad keeping are taken into account. The losses consequent 

 on keeping grapes to a late period in the spring has been to a great extent lessened 

 by cutting and storing them in rooms specially erected for that purpose, as described on 

 pages 316-322, Vol. II. 



Melons. -Melons should be cut in the early ripening stage, or two or three days in 

 advance of their best condition, securing a portion of stalk with each fruit. Wrap each 

 melon in tissue paper, then roll in cotton wool, and place closely together on paper 

 shavings, stopping the interstices between the fruits, and fill the basket or box with 

 the same material so that the fruits cannot be displaced in transit. Dry, soft, sweet 

 moss or hay may be used instead of paper shavings. Avoid old newspapers they give 

 a second-hand appearance to fruit packages, and the value of the fruit is rated accord- 

 ingly. 



Nuts. The crop of filberts is often gathered green, as soon as the kernels fill the 

 shell, and they are sent to market at once. This is a practice generally adopted where 

 hops are grown, so as to dispose of the crop before the hop-pickers arrive. But the 

 nuts are best left until September and October, then they come off the trees with a good 



