374 Tbansactions of tjte American Institute. 



above sized crate is convenient to liandle, will keep the contents 

 ventilated and cool, and two of tlieni will make a barrel, tlie standard 

 measures for the above articles in the market. For peaches, toma- 

 toes and pears, the crates should hold two of our peach baskets, and 

 made of ends and middle pieces, 8x18 inches, one inch thick, 

 and slats twent_y-four inches long, from two to six inches wide, 

 and about one-half inch thick, with spaces one-half to three-quarters 

 of an inch. This crate will hold one and one-quarter bushels heaped 

 mea^^ure. 



Too much care cannot be taken in selecting and packing fruit and 

 vegetables to ship long distances, as fruit or vegetables that are 

 ■worthless at home are worthless here ; besides thej spoil that which 

 would come good if properly selected. The following rules should 

 be observed in packing and shipping : Potatoes should be of good 

 size, the skin well set, and care taken in digging, not to let them lie 

 in the sun so as to scald, for a few sun-burnt potatoes in a crate will 

 ferment and rot the rest. The crates should be well filled and shaken 

 down. Cucumbers should be of the pure white spine ; they should be 

 picked before they get their growth, that is of medium size, as an 

 over-large cucumber is not valuable. Be sure that there are none 

 that show the least sign of turning yellow, and fill the crates well. 

 Onions should be pulled and thoroughly cured, keeping out scalded 

 or bruised ones, and when packed should be perfectly dry and shelly ; 

 cut the top so as to leave about an inch long. Apples should be per- 

 fectly sound and not wormy ; put them up so as to have them of 

 uniform quality in each crate ; use care in picking and packing not 

 to bruise them, as they soon spoil when bruised. Fill the crates well 

 that they may not shake in handling. Beans and peas should be per- 

 fectly dry when packed, rejecting all bruised or rotten ones; the 

 crates well filled ; they should be sent oif when young and tender, as 

 beans that will not snap are not saleable. Tomatoes need more care than 

 most any other vegetable. They should be of the lai-ge, smooth, red 

 variety ; yellow or rough tomatoes are not saleable. They should be 

 picked as they begin to turn red and in dry weather. Thej must be 

 selected with care, rejecting any that are bruised, cracked, or wormy ; 

 put in crates carefully, shake them down and well fill, as a few 

 bruised, cracked, or ripe tomatoes soon ferment and rot all the rest. 

 Do not pick before they commence turning red nor after they are 

 nearly ripe. The same care should be used in picking and packing 

 peaches ; have them perfectly dry, sound, and within about five daya 



