FOR PROFIT. 133 



matter of course, separate from the packing, and arrive 

 in a bruised and worthless condition. Never use 

 wadding (the worst of all packing materials for soft 

 perishable fruit), as it absorbs moisture, becomes hard, 

 and heats on the journey. Avoid large boxes ; those 

 24-in. by i4-in., and 4-in. deep inside measure, are 

 suitable for 20 to 24 fine fruit. Always have the lids 

 in one piece, nail slightly, and cord two or more 

 boxes together. Place the direction label, printed 

 " Fruit with care," on the top " To be met at the 

 terminus, this side up." I once heard of a porter who 

 walked into a shop in the Central Row, Covent 

 Garden, carrying a box with cards both on the top 

 and sides. Puzzled by his instructions he informed 

 the fruiterer that he had given each of the cards a 

 turn upwards on his journey from the station, and 

 hoped he had succeeded in carrying out the sender's 

 directions. Gather fruit in very closely before the 

 end of the week, and, unless specially ordered, never 

 send away later than Friday morning. When Peaches 

 appear sufficiently advanced for sending away, but 

 yet their hold is too firm to admit of their being 

 plucked from the tree without injury by the pressure 

 of the fingers ; take a piece of wadding in the left 

 hand, with which the Peach is firmly grasped, then 

 by using a pair of finely-pointed grape scissors with 

 the right hand, they can be detached without bruising. 

 Each fruit should be placed in a piece of tissue paper 

 nine inches square, and be laid in a shallow box or 

 flat basket containing a good bed of moss. When 

 gathering (which should always be performed early in 

 the morning) is finished, proceed to the packing room 

 and prepare the boxes by lining the sides and ends 



