112 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



seedlings, and only serve to remind us what we could do if 

 we only set about it in the same careful way in which the 

 vegetables have been improved. We need more work of this 

 sort done in our experiment stations, in our schools, and, yes, 

 on our farms, for no work is more fascinating thau that of 

 creating something new, and we ought all to have some hobby 

 to take us out of the more serious work of life. So those 

 who are interested in growing things might do well to work 

 along some of these lines. I recall a man who, at eighty- 

 eight, is still working on the improvement of the strawberry. 

 This work keeps him young and interested in life, and still 

 he is looking for something better than he has ever produced. 

 Certainly wc all enjoy these small fruits, and we ought to 

 havo them in abundance. So, in connection with the other 

 fruit development in Massachusetts, let us work to increase 

 the production and consumption of this important group, the 

 small fruits, so that our farmers may profit thereby and our 

 people get the benefit of fresh, clean fruit produced on 

 near-by farms. 



Mr. Erwiin^ The lecturer would be glad to answer any 

 questions upon his subject. 



Question. What are the dimensions of the tray for mar- 

 keting strawberries ? 



Mr. Wheeler. I haven't the measurements to give you 

 exactly in inches, but it is made to take three baskets the 

 wide way and six the long way. There is room enough so 

 that you can put the berries up an inch or so above the basket 

 and still the tray above will not bruise them. That is one 

 advantage, because when you get to the market you always 

 have your baskets full, whereas with the 32-quart crate you 

 can only fill the baskets level, and there is more or less set- 

 tling. One advantage of this tray is that the grocer can set 

 it in the window at different angles and it makes a very 

 attractive window package, not only for strawberries but for 

 currants, raspberries and blackberries. It is especially good 

 for the local market. These trays are all returned by the 

 grocer. In actual practice we label them and get them bnck. 

 They are made of stock about five-eighths of an inch thick 

 and cost about 22 cents each. 



