Strawberries 85 



Because of this there is an increasing tendency among 

 growers who are packing fancy and extra fancy fruit to 

 have the picking done in the usual way, and then repack 

 the fruit, at the packing shed. In this repacking the fruit 

 is poured out onto a tray having a bottom made of mos- 

 quito bar or soft cotton cloth. All of the bruised, over- 

 ripe or dirty berries are thrown out. The berries suitable 

 for packing are arranged in two grades, and are placed in 

 the boxes in rows and layers, much after the fashion of 

 boxed apples. Berries which are of irregular shape, such 

 as Bubach or Aroma, do not pack into boxes as smoothly 

 and evenly as do such varieties as Senator Dunlap, Klon- 

 dike or Clark's Seedling. But whatever the size or shape 

 of the berry, the boxes should be graded honestly with 

 the fruit in the top layer turned with the same side up, 

 thus "facing" the box. Fruit which runs under three- 

 quarters of an inch in diameter should not be marketed as 

 first-class berries, as they are too small, and should be 

 sent to the canning factory. 



In those parts of the country where fruit growers' as- 

 sociations have control of the harvesting and packing the 

 better methods are in use, and the growers receive more 

 careful instruction about picking and packing their fruit. 

 The association at Ashland, Oregon, issued the following 

 instructions in 1910 for its berry growers: "Strawberries 

 are graded 'A' and *B.' The 'A' grade berries must be nice 

 in appearance, firm and clean; smallest berry for 'A' grade 

 should be of such size that four berries will form one row 

 along the side of the cup; face the 'A' grade with medium 

 size berries; do not put the extra large berries on top. 

 The *B' grade, firm and clean, no culls, and need not be 

 faced. Stems on all strawberries should be about half an 

 inch long. Pick in the mornings only, and keep dry and 

 cool; do not let crates or picking crates set in sun. De- 

 liver to warehouse before 10:30 a. m. Use wagon with 

 springs and cover fruit. Make rule for pickers that ber- 

 ries must not be carried in hand but must be transferred 

 to cup at once after picking. Berries should be handled 

 as little as possible. Fill cups about half an inch above 

 the rim: fill corners; pack firmly, but do not press. In 



