32 PROFITABLE FRUIT-GROWING. 



sands sell for a shilling each. One of these baskets 

 is shown in fig. 9, page 31. The handle bends 

 down and fits closely over the edge of the basket, 

 then any desired number, according to the size of the 

 box, can be arranged as in fig. 10. It is a common 

 practice to have a number of boxes about 3 J inches 

 deep and make a stack of five or six of these, 

 binding them tightly together for market. A few 

 Strawberry or soft rhubarb leaves without mid- ribs 

 are spread on the fruit before placing on the lid. 



Fig. 10. PACKING CHIP BASKETS OF STRAWBERRIES. 



The fruit should be gathered before overripe for 

 travelling, each with half an inch of stalk attached ; 

 and above all things growers should treat their 

 customers as they would themselves be treated if 

 buying instead of selling, and not attempt to de- 

 ceive by " topping" with extra fine fruit, while that 

 below is inferior. Smaller fruit for preserving 

 does not receive the same care in packing, but it 

 should never be forgotten that the better it is pre- 

 sented the better the price it conimnwls. These 



