Packages and Marketing 31 



yet a flat piece of tape, is run through the corners of the 

 basket underneath the rim, then around the body and 

 back around the outside of the basket and tied. Extra 

 baskets are placed in this one and the outer string slipped 

 up to hold the upper ones in place until filled. It is a 

 very simple expedient but helps greatly in the speed of 

 picking. Women pickers sometimes accomplish the same 

 purpose by fastening their aprons to the basket. 



Two cents a quart is the common price paid for picking 

 berries, but this is not a fair compensation. In the best 

 of the picking this is often more than the work is worth, 

 while at the end of the season, when the berries are small 

 and scattering, it is not enough. Some system of adjust- 

 ment is important. Excuses multiply wonderfully as the 

 picking begins to fail, unless this is done. Pickers dis- 

 appear and the burden of this more tedious part of the 

 work falls on the most conscientious. A stipulation that 

 only those who continue to the end of the season shall 

 receive two cents a quart, others one and one-half cents, 

 helps to some extent. Perhaps a better way is to fix the 

 price for each day's picking, according to the character 

 of the work. Even this plan is not easily worked out, and 

 causes some confusion. The price for red raspberries is 

 sometimes three cents per quart. 



PACKAGES AND MARKETING 



The evolution of the fruit package would form an in- 

 teresting study. Formerly, home-made crates were much 

 in use. The baskets were even often purchased in the 

 flat and nailed up at home. The manufacturer, with his 



