10 BULLETIN 688, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



of a 16-quart crate of strawberries is from 27 to 31 pounds, and the 

 postage to points within the first and second postal zones (approxi- 

 mately 150 miles) is from 31 to 35 cents. Therefore the cost of the 

 crate and postage for shipping 16 quarts of strawberries is from 50 

 to 60 cents. The charges for postage will average about 2 cents per 

 quart on a shipment of 16 quarts. For shipments of less than 16 

 quarts the cost per quart for both the crate and the postage wiU be 

 relatively higher. 



Whether or not a grower wiU profit by shipping strawberries by 

 parcel post can be decided only by giving due consideration to all 

 of the various factors entering into the proposition. Some of these 

 factors are the cost of marketing by this method and the net returns 

 to be reahzed as compared with the expense and profits incidental 

 to other methods of marketing, the quantity of berries to be marketed, 

 the location of the shipper with reference to his post office and his 

 market, and the ability of the shipper to develop and maintain a 

 mail-order business. 



BLACKBERRIES. 



During 1915 and 1916, 34 experimental shipments of blackberries 

 were made by parcel post. Practically aU of these shipments were 

 made in' crates with a capacity of 16 quarts. The blackberries 

 were shipped an average of 162 miles, and an average of 22 hours 

 elapsed between the time the berries were shipped and the time they 

 were received. During a large part of these two seasons the weather 

 was very unfavorable for shipping berries by parcel post. In a 

 number of instances the berries were too ripe for shipping when they 

 were picked. Seven shipments were received in good condition, 

 18 in fair condition, and, largely because of delay in dehvery, 9 ship- 

 ments were received in poor condition. The berries in 25 of the ship- 

 ments were fit to use but in some instances were rather soft. 



Most of the shipments in which the berries were received in poor 

 condition were made in unventdated crates. In shipping blackberries 

 by parcel post the use of ventilated crates is recommended, as the 

 berries undoubtedly break down from lack of ventilation in crates 

 made with solid sides. While berries shipped in unventilated con- 

 tainers may be fit for use on arrival at destination, they are usually 

 soft and settled in the baskets and are unattractive in appearance. 



If a grower wishes to ship blackberries by parcel post, he should 

 exercise care in picking and packing the berries. Carelessness in 

 picking and handling blackberries sometimes causes more injury to 

 the fruit than does the treatment given w^hile in transit. Success 

 in shipping blackberries is dependent largely on favorable weather 

 conditions and the way in which the fruit is handled in transit. 



