SHIPMENT OP EED BASPBEBBIES. 35 



the Department of Agriculture, as above reported, have demon- 

 strated clearly the beneficial results of precooling red raspberries, 

 but to get full value out of the money expended in precooling it is 

 absolutely necessary to do it properly and well. 



Precooling can not be depended on to offset the bad effects of care- 

 less, rough handling, and for such purpose is not justified any more 

 than is a half job of precooling of either properly or improperly 

 handled berries. Thorough precooling of properly handled red 

 raspberries is fully justified b}^ the results, and is of the greatest 

 assistance in delivering berries to the market in good condition. 

 Any association, organization, or individual wishing to utilize pre- 

 cooling in connection with the long-distance shipment of berries 

 should adapt the picking and handling operations to the needs of 

 the situation, so as to permit sufficient time for thorough precooling. 

 Otherwise, the money put into precooling is very largely wasted. 



SUMMARY. 



The results of these investigations demonstrate that the care exer- 

 cised in handling and the promptness with which the fruit is cooled 

 are among the most important factors determining the distance over 

 which red raspberries can be successfully shipped. These two fac- 

 tors, more than any other, determine the condition of the berries on 

 arrival at the market and the area of successful distribution. In 

 connection with the handling and shipping of fresh red raspberries 

 the following recommendations are made. 



While methods of growing, pruning, and training have primarily 

 in view the production of the largest possible crop at the most profit- 

 able period during the season, the grower should also keep in mind 

 the ease or difficulty of harvesting. If the methods of growing, 

 pinning, and training are such as to facilitate picking, there will be 

 less Liability to injury in handling. Too close planting or the non- 

 separation of bearing from nonbearing canes increases the difficulty 

 of doing the picking either thoroughly or properly. 



Before the harvesting season commences all surplus new growth 

 should be cut out and the remaining new canes separated from the 

 bearing vines in such a way as to facilitate picking, both as regards 

 tin' finding of the fruit and (lie picking of it with the least- amount 



of injury. 



In picking, three fingers should he used to remove the berry from 

 tin- receptacle instead of two. as is the common practice. Three 

 fingers distribute the pressure and lessen the liability to injury. 



Bach berry should !»<• placed in a cup as soon as removed from 

 the vine, in order to avoid mashing. When several berries are held 

 in the hand while picking it is difficult to avoid crushing them. 



