HORTICULTURE 263 



erator carriers or to be carried to the local market, for best results 

 the fruit should not be rehandled after it is picked. The pickers 

 should be trained to do the necessary assorting and grading as they 

 pick the fruit in the receptacles in which it is to be marketed. In 

 some localities, where the fruits become greatly soiled from mud 

 splashing over them during heavy rains, growers find it advisable 

 to assort and pack the fruits and also to rinse them in water before 

 assorting and packing them. This is the system used by many of 

 the most extensive and successful Florida growers. 



The light splint-wood basket, holding 1 quart, is the most popu- 

 lar and most universality used. Many different forms of box or basket 

 have been designed, and various materials other than wood have 

 been used in their construction, but up to the present none has met 

 with general adoption. 



As above stated, the refrigerator carrier is almost universally 

 used for long-distance shipment. For shorter hauls, not more than 

 a night's ride, the ordinary slat crate, holding 24 to 36 quart boxes, 

 is very popular; it is also the package in general use for local 

 marketing. 



Picking. In the commercial production of strawberries con- 

 siderable numbers of persons have to be employed in picking the 

 fruit and as this work is usually paid for by the quart it becomes 

 necessary to have some system of keeping account of the work done 

 by each individual. Different growers employ different schemes. 

 Some issue a check or card for each quart of berries harvested, 

 and where a certain number have been obtained by the picker these 

 are exchanged for one of larger denomination. This has the advan- 

 tage of reducing the number of quart checks necessary. The one 

 objection to this plan is the liability to loss on the part of the 

 pickers. Other growers use a tag similar to a shipping tag, which 

 is fastened to the clothing of the picker, and as the fruit is delivered 

 to the inspector credit for as many quarts as have been picked is 

 punched out of the tag. Others use only a system of bookkeeping, 

 the picker delivering his fruit to the inspector and depending upon 

 the accuracy of the tallyman for the count. The system of record- 

 ing the work of each picker will largely depend upon the character 

 of the help employed and the extent of the work to be done. The 

 plan that suits the circumstances of one may not be that which will 

 meet the requirements of another. Each grower must study this 

 problem for himself, and decide upon the plan best adapted to his 

 conditions. 



A convenience which is almost a necessity is a picking stand 

 carrying from 4 to 6 boxes. The short legs hold the tray off the 

 ground and prevent injury to the fruit, while the number of baskets 

 (4 or 6) allows the picker to grade the berries as gathered. (F. B. 

 198.) 



CITRUS FRUIT. 



Citrus Aurantium. This species includes the group sinensis 

 or ordinary sweet oranges with which we are all familiar, such 

 as Washington Navel, Mediterranean Sweet, etc. 



