SMALL FRUITS 



93 



and only firm, sound berries should be sent to market. A few over-ripe 

 fruits in a box will shorten the marketing period of the whole box, as will 

 rough handling in picking or transporting the fruit to market. Quart boxes 

 are as large a receptacle as blackberries can be successfully marketed in, 

 but the crates may run from 12 to 36 quarts capacity. 



THE CURRANT 



There are three general groups of currants cultivated to a greater or 

 less degree in various parts of the United States. In general, however, the 

 culture of the currant is confined to the northern half of the country, 



CURRANTS SHOULD FIND A PLACE IN EVERY HOME GARDEN. 1 



as none of the forms are able to withstand heat as well as they do cold. 

 Of the three types represented by the common red, the Black and the 

 Crandall, the Red is by far the most important from a commercial stand- 

 point and is the form most generally cultivated. The other two are spar- 

 ingly grown for special purposes. As currants are in little demand as fresh 

 table fruits, but are almost universally used for the preparation of jellies, 

 jams, preserves or for canning in mixture with sour cherries or red rasp- 

 berries, they are restricted commercially. This should be borne in mind in 

 planning a small fruit plantation. While the currant should be found in 

 every home fruit plantation throughout the northern tier of states on 



1 Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Farmer. 



