90 TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



tioned elsewhere. It remains here to be remarked that a 

 mulch or covering to the soil will shade the ground from 

 the hot sun and maintain an equal temperature. It pre- 

 vents the too rapid evaporation and drying of the soil, 

 and is therefore to be recommended with or without 

 watering. 



CHAPTER X. 



PACKING AND MARKETS. 



It should be remembered by the grower and shipper 

 of fruit and vegetables to Northern markets that, while 

 his produce may be of the best quality, it will return 

 him unsatisfactory prices, if put up in packages which 

 present to the buyer an unattractive or unclean appear- 

 ance. His first consideration, then, after securing a 

 good crop, is to have his barrels, crates, etc., clean and 

 bright, and well and symmetrically made, neatness being 

 very important. The matter next in importance is, that 

 the packages be not only full at departure, but that they 

 be also full on their arrival at their destination. They 

 should not, therefore, be filled in a careless, haphazard 

 manner, hastily headed up, and hurriedly dispatched. 

 The contents should be so placed, or thoroughly shaken 

 down, whenever the character of the article will permit, 

 as to leave no vacant spaces to be filled out by the jar- 

 ring received in transit, thus causing an empty space at 

 the top, and permitting the stuff to be bruised by being 

 shaken or rolled about within the package. The con- 

 tents of the barrel or crate should bulge up beyond the 

 level, so that force will be required to press on the head 

 or cover. A slight bruising of the upper layer is of but 



