MARKETING THE CROPS 243 



"In many localities certain growers have built up quite a 

 reputation for themselves in choice, hand-picked fruit, which 

 they ship to special customers in distant markets. For this 

 purpose the James variety is usually grown because the berries 

 adhere well and are of good size and flavor. Several growers 

 ship as far north as New York and Boston, getting from $2.00 

 to $2.50 gross per bushel crate. In shipping, three styles of 

 carriers are used the 24-box strawberry crate, the 6-basket 

 peach crate, and the 8-pound basket. More attention should 

 be given to this phase of the industry. The varieties best 

 suited for shipping are the James, Memory, Flowers, and Mish. 



"In the fall of 1910 shipments of the James, Thomas, and 

 Eden varieties were sent from the Rotundifolia experiment 

 vineyard at Willard, N. C., to Washington D. C., part of the 

 consignment being in strawberry boxes and the remainder in 

 bushel baskets. No important difference could be noted in 

 the two lots on their arrival in Washington. The James variety 

 arrived in perfect condition in both packages; of the Eden 

 30 per cent and of the Thomas 35 per cent had shelled. More 

 extensive experiments along this line are contemplated/' 



HANDLING THE GRAPE IN CALIFORNIA 



Grapes are grown in California for three purposes, wine, 

 raisins and the table. The handling of the crop for raisins and 

 wine is best taken up in a discussion of these products in the 

 chapter on by-products of the grape, leaving only table grapes 

 to be discussed at this place. 



The table-grape industry of the Pacific slope is dependent on 

 the wide distribution of the product in 'eastern markets for a 

 profitable sale of the crop, since production is so great that but 

 a small part of the crop is consumed in the markets of the Pacific 

 slope. The growers in this region, therefore, have special 

 problems, chief of which are those of successful shipment over 



