As an Employment for Women. 275 



hundred quarts in a short day's work. Packages for fruit must be pur- 

 chased. These must be neat, strong, and adapted to the market to be 

 supplied. The most satisfactory that I have seen is the " Halleck Fruit- 

 box," — a quart box made of two strips of sliced wood, which can be pur- 

 chased " in the flat " at eight dollars per thousand : thirty-six of these can be 

 packed in a crate, or case, also made of ready-cut strips. This case costs 

 about twenty-eight dollars per hundred. Thus far, for an acre of good 

 strawberries, one may need — 



100 cases (a hundred and twelve and a half bushels) . . . $28.00 

 3,600 boxes „ „ „ „ „ „ • . . 28.80 



Total, not including freight .... $56.80 



A small sum must be expended in tough tacks. No. 3, and a magnetic 

 tack-hammer. The material should be kept in a cool, shady place, and 

 put together at intervals of leisure. The cases should be kept in the same 

 way, and put together with No. 3 and 4 nails. 



The " Burlington Free-fruit Box," Piatt's " Fruit Box." and a large shal- 

 low box containing half a bushel, and probably many others, are also used, 

 and have their respective admirers. 



The fruit should be neatly picked, taken up tenderly, when it is dry, 

 directly into the boxes. Small and unripe berries should not be put in, 

 and all leaves or other litter excluded. The boxes should be filled with pre- 

 cision, packed in their turn neatly in the case, and the top nailed on firmly. 

 If, as is generally the case, the fruit is sent by express, care must be taken 

 to direct properly, and send away promptly, as the fruit is perishable. 



Commission-merchants must be engaged at the principal place or places 

 of sale. "Men are deceivers ever;" but the impression, not without 

 foundation, has got abroad, that they are more than usually tempted in the 

 business of fruit-selling. But any experienced friend can point out relia- 

 ble dealers everywhere, who, for about ten per cent commission, will receive 

 and sell small lots of fruit. One should keep the run of the markets, and 

 sell at home, or send to different markets according to quotations. 



In case the raspberry and blackberry bushes produce a little fruit the 

 second season, it can be shipped in the same kind of packages, and in a 

 similar way. The gooseberries, when they begin to come, can be shipped 



