2 BULLETIN 688, TJ. S. DEP^RTMjENT OP AOEICULTURE. 



cherries by parcel post, and many experimental shipments of straw- 

 berries, blackberries, huckleberries, raspberries, and cherries have 

 been made This work was planned for the purpose of ascertaining 

 whether berries and cherries could be shipped in commercial crates 

 by parcel post, and also to determine the various factors that operate 

 for and against the successful shipping of these fruits through the 

 mail. 



Most of the shipments were made to the Bureau of Markets from 

 points within the first and second postal zones, which include the 

 territory within a radius of approximately 150 miles. Few ship- 

 ments were made from other zones, as most of the farm produce 

 that will be shipped by parcel post from producers direct to con- 

 sumers will not be sent beyond the second zone. Sending perishable 

 mail matter to points beyond the second zone often is impracticable 

 because of the higher rate of postage and the increased distance. 



Inasmuch as strawberries are the most important of the small 

 fruits, the experimental shipments that were made of this fruit were 

 more numerous than those made of any of the other berries or of 

 cherries. While it is realized that the experimental shipments of 

 some of the berries were small in number and that the varying con- 

 ditions make it difficult to draw definite conclusions, it is believed 

 that sufficient work was done under enough different conditions to 

 warrant the suggestions and conclusions here given. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



During three seasons 485 shipments of strawberries were made 

 in crates of various types and sizes. The shipments totaled 9,126 

 quarts of 17 varieties of strawberries. On an average the berries were 

 shipped 200 miles, while the average length of time between mailing 

 and receipt of the shipments exceeded 20 hours. The cooperation 

 of 63 growers located at 41 stations in 5 States was secured. Repre- 

 sentatives from the Bureau of Markets visited these growers and 

 observed the methods of picking, packing, and hauling the berries. 

 Data were secured as to the time the berries were picked, the amount 

 of handling in picking and packing, the date and hour of shipment, 

 the weather conditions, the size of the crate, and the weight of the 

 shipment. When the shipments were received at the Bureau of 

 Markets the berries were examined carefully and records were made 

 of the weight of each shipment, the date and hour received, and the 

 condition of the container and the berries. 



In making arrangements for experimental shipments, the growers 

 were instructed that they need not give any more care or attention 

 in picking, packing, and hauling the berries to be used in the experi- 

 ments than was given ordinarily in handling the regular commercial 

 shipments made by other means of transportation. Most of the 



