31G GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

 PACKING OF VEGETABLES FOR SHIPPING. 



This is a matter for which it is not very easy to give 

 directions, as the distance, season, and articles to be 

 packed will greatly determine the manner in which it is 

 to be done ; but a few general directions may assist the 

 inexperienced. 



The mode of packing during spring and summer is 

 almost entirely the reverse of that practised during 

 autumn or winter, for the reason that, when the temper- 

 ature is high, provision must be made in the package for 

 the admission of air to prevent the articles from heating ; 

 while in cold weather, when there is but little danger 

 from heating, but more to be apprehended from frost, 

 close packages must be used accordingly. 



As early vegetables are always shipped from a warm 

 climate to a colder one, at a season which, of course, 

 must be warm to mature them, open work baskets or 

 slatted boxes must be used. If barrels are used, care 

 must be taken that openings be made plentifully in the 

 sides, so that air may be admitted. For distances requir- 

 ing a delay of more than forty-eight hours in the transit, 

 for most articles, barrels are too large ; boxes or baskets, 

 one-third the capacity of a flour barrel (one bushel), 

 being safer. The articles shipped in this manner from 

 Southern ports to Northern markets, are : Asparagus, 

 Beans, Cucumbers, Lettuce, Melons, Peas, Radishes, 

 Tomatoes, and other summer crops. Bulky articles, 

 such as Cabbages, Beets, Sweet Corn, Water Melons, 

 Turnips, are often shipped loose on the decks of steamers, 

 sloops, etc. ; but even then care must be taken that the 

 heaps are not too large, else they may be injured by heat- 

 ing. The judgment of the shipper must be exercised in 

 respect to the article to be shipped. Articles that lie 



