LECT. ix DISPOSAL OF GARDEN PRODUCE 



131 



as bushels, half sieves, flats, half flats, and pecks (page 

 137). Before being packed the fruit should be sorted 

 into large and small, -or best and seconds, and ought to 

 be of one quality throughout, the same at the bottom 

 as at the top. This gives confidence to buyers and thus 

 better prices are obtained. The baskets must not 

 be quite filled, space having to be left for the cover- 

 ing, which should consist of a sheet of paper and 

 over this a layer of straw or fern. As a rule small 

 packages are best and least injurious to the fruit. 



FIG. 33. PACKING STRAWBERRIES, PLUMS AND PEARS. 



1, Strawberries in chip baskets ; 2, baskets (reduced) with handles turned 

 down and arranged in box for transit ; 3, choice plums assorted and 

 covered with laee-edged paper; 4, assorted specimen pears. 



Strawberries are best packed in punnets, each 

 holding about one pound, and the best form of 

 these is the square with folding cross handle as 

 shown in the above illustration. These are taken to 

 the beds and the fruit placed in them direct as 

 gathered. They are then weighed, the handles turned 

 down, and the punnets packed closely together in 



T -2 



