STRAWBERRY HARVESTING 



1923 



ket. There is, however, a splendid op- 

 portunity for the strawberry grower to 

 build up an extra-fancy trade by marliet- 

 ing his fruit in specially constructed con- 

 tainers. These may be after his own 

 origination or he may find something 

 suitable which is handled by some straw- 

 berry firm. 



It should be remembered that all mar- 

 kets prefer clean, neat boxes and crates, 

 hence the necessity for cleanliness in 

 the berry patch and packing house. 



Marketing the Fruit. The marketing 

 of the fruit in many cases is more of a 

 business proposition than the growing. 

 If the grower has access to a local as- 

 sociation no difficulty will be experienced, 

 but if not, arrangements should be made 

 for their disposal before the harvest be- 

 gins. As a general rule in many sections 

 of the state the fruit is sold in the local 

 markets. In transferring the fruit from 

 the berry patch to the city, the grower 

 should take every precaution to Insure 

 his berries against the heat and dust. 

 Good spring wagons covered with a tar- 

 paulin may be used to good advantage. 

 When the output is less than a carload, 

 and the grower wishes to ship a short 

 distance, the pony express may be used 

 successfully. The contrivance is par- 

 titioned off so that the ice can be placed 

 at the top and the berries at the hottom. 

 Berries placed in portable refrigerators 

 arrive on the market in first-class con- 

 dition. They may also be shipped short 

 distances by fast express. When straw- 

 berries are shipped in car lots the grower 

 should understand the methods of load- 

 ing the car to insure his fruit arriving 

 in prime condition in the market. Enough 

 space should be left between each tier 

 to insure perfect circulation of air. About 

 five rows are made across the end of the 

 car. Small laths are placed between the 

 crates and nailed firmly so as to prevent 

 them from jostling around. The center 

 of the car is never filled, as this space Is 

 utilized by braces which hold the crates 

 firmly in place and prevent them from 

 moving lengthwise. Only refrigerator 

 cars that have been previously cooled 



should be used in shipping berries. When 

 these precautions have been observed 

 good berries will carry six to seven days 

 in prime condition. An ordinary car will 

 hold from 600 to 700 crates. 



Yields. Many elements, such as the 

 care of the plantation, location, varieties 

 grown, prices received, etc., determine 

 largely the profits derived per acre. An 

 average crop in Hood River, Oregon, is 

 estimated at 150 crates per acre. The 

 yield per acre in Idaho varies from 100 to 

 300 crates. The prices also fluctuate 

 more or less according to the scarcity of 

 the fruit. 



Treatment of Plants After Fruiting. 

 After the berries have been harvested 

 the plantation should receive special at- 

 tention. The old leaves should be re- 

 moved, the ground stirred, and the weeds 

 destroyed. There is no better way of 

 doing this than by following the advice 

 of Mr. D. M. Ragon, of Meridian, one of 

 the most progressive growers in the Boise 

 valley. He says in part: "After the 

 berries are harvested mow the vines close 

 to the ground. On drying rake the tops 

 to the middle of the row and burn, then 

 irrigate. When dry enough cultivate 

 thoroughly between the rows and with 

 the hoe draw the dirt evenly over the 

 crowns being sure that it is well pul- 

 verized to the depth of one-half inch. Con- 

 tinue to irrigate the ground well the rest 

 of the season, cultivating enough to down 

 the weeds." The practice of covering 

 the crowns assists the old plants in 

 growing a new root system. Some grow- 

 ers have by care and attention secured 

 two crops of berries during the season. 



DURATION OF PLANTATIOIV 



Just how often the strawberry plan- 

 tation should be renewed seems to be a 

 disputed question in many sections. Lack 

 of sufficient knowledge on this subject 

 has caused many growers to give up in 

 despair and pronounce strawberry grow- 

 ing an unprofitable industry. Mr. A. K. 

 Bowden of Sand Point comments as fol- 

 lows on the subject: "The people have 

 not yet learned that the strawberry must 

 be renewed and cannot go on bearing 



