86 The Fruit-Growers Guide-Book 



picking blackberries, raspberries and logans, remove all 

 stems and pick as soon as berries come off readily. Be 

 careful to not put overripe or crushed fruit in cups, as it 

 will cause the entire lot to mould. Use no small or dried 

 berries. Especial care is required to fill the corners; if 

 not done, shipping causes berries to sink in cup. Currants 

 and gooseberries are shipped in crates and cups, same as 

 strawberries. Get instructions from manager as to time 

 and condition of picking. Mark grower's name in upper 

 left hand corner of crate. Attention to details gives sat- 

 isfaction to customers and keeps up the price." 



"Shed packing," as it is called, has found favor with 

 the strawberry growers at Pierce City, Mo., where the 

 association has made a fine reputation for its pack and 

 has been able to realize from 15 to 35 cents per crate above 

 the average market price. To accomplish this the berries 

 are culled at the packing shed. There the force of help 

 is divided into cullers, graders and packers, over whom is 

 the shed inspector. About two-thirds of the force cull 

 and grade; the other one-third being divided up into pack- 

 ers and finishers. To facilitate the work of packing, trays 

 or pans have been contrived in the shape of a flat, shallow 

 tin scoop tapering from 8 to 10 inches in width at the 

 handle to about 4^ inches at the other end, and from about 

 12 to 14 inches long. These trays expose the surface of all 

 the berries in such a way that the faulty ones may be 

 quickly culled out. The good fruit remaining is then 

 emptied into the box from which it originally came, and 

 additional berries are added to make it nicely rounded. 

 Every box and crate prepared for shipment must be exam- 

 ined by the inspector and receive his stamp of approval 

 before being shipped. 



Grapes 



There are a great many different kinds of grapes grown 

 in this country, yet there are but two styles or type of 

 packages in general use. One of these is the "Climax" 

 basket that is used for the Concord class of grapes,- and 

 finds its most extensive use in the central and eastern 



