332 



THE FRUIT GROWER' 8 GUIDE. 



as smoothly as possible. It ought to be a free box the buyer taking it as well as the 

 fruit. The box should be lined with paper, that at the sides and ends standing up 

 \ inch to | inch, with a lace edge for turning down over the fruit. Only tissue paper 

 should be used for packing, placing some between the fruits and in the corners of the 

 box, leaving the upper side of the fruit exposed, when it will only need covering witli 

 a sheet of tissue paper, the lace paper turned over and the lid lightly nailed on. All 

 the gage plums, when large and fine, can be marketed in boxes. Cardboard and other 

 boxes answer fairly well for sending plums short distances. Such expedients as cast-off 

 boxes from confectioners impart a second-hand appearance to the fruit. A two-layer 

 plum box is 15| inches long, 8g inches wide, and 3^ inches deep. It holds about 10 



Fig. 78. Box OF GREEN GAGE PLUMS. 



pounds. Gage and other choice plums travel well in such boxes as the one shown 

 (Fig. 78), if care is taken to pack tightly and before the fruit gets soft. 



Raspberries. When required for dessert, raspberries should be gathered with stalks 

 and packed in flat 1 -pound punnets, similar to strawberries, and sent to market in 

 a large box. (See strawberries.) If the fruit is required for preserving, it should be 

 gathered without stalks and carefully packed in small glazed earthenware jars or crocks, 

 holding 7 pounds; or large, holding 14 pounds. These crocks are used both for 

 raspberries and strawberries in the Midland and Northern counties. They are clean, 

 retain the juice, and are worth adopting everywhere for juicy fruits, in place of the 

 dirty basketing system. In Kent, women pick the fruit for preserving into small 

 wooden or galvanised pails, and earn from Is. to 2s. per day. Such raspberries are 

 sent to market in tubs, holding 28 pounds or 56 pounds each. This fruit is one of 

 the most difficult to market in good condition ; it is also oftener spoiled by rain than 



