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Fig. 1 shows our favorite basket. We prefer square baskets to all others. Fig. 

 S represents the bottom of the crate with the baskets setting upon it. Fig. S repre- 

 sents the divisions for setting upper tiers of fruit on. These are made as follows : 

 Take four half inch square pieces just long enough to fit inside, lengthwise of the crate. 

 Have these just far enough apart so that they fit over the outer edges of the baskets, 

 and nail on them, as represented in Mg. 2, two-inch slats one-eighth inch thick 

 and long enough so that they just go to the out edge of the outer half inch square 

 pieces. (These are slitted out of two inch plank, and the half inch from half inch 

 boards.) Fig, 4 will show how the crate is made. The side slats (four on each side) 

 and bottom slats (four) are sawed out of two and one-half inch plank. 



The first tier is placed on four horizontal strips that form the bottom ; and before 

 putting in the second, the frame of slats, Fig. 3, is placed on the baskets already in 

 position, so that each bar rests on the two edges of the contiguous ones, holding them 

 firmly in place. The whole box is filled in the same way. When the top is nailed or 

 screwed on, the berries will carry safely long distances, if kept right side up. The 

 elasticity of the slats assists materially toward this result. 



J. J. Thomas says of this crate: "We had an opportunity of testing this secure 

 mode of packing by examining a case of Mammoth Clusters that had been carried 

 several miles, after a fast horse, over a rough road, after its railroad transit, when all 

 were found in good condition, and kept well two or three days afterwards,, in hot 

 weather." 



These crates are made very cheaply and can be put together by any person, and if 

 the distance to ship is far away and the Express Company charges for returning the 

 crates, they need not be returned, but the baskets can be nested together and returned 

 200 or 300 in a crate, and, also, the divisions {Fig: 8) can be packed in a crate and 

 returned by Exp ess at : slight cost. 



Care should be taken in making this crate for packing tne baskets in, that the top 

 slats pass above the end piece £ inch — and then the cover can be fitted down in and 

 being thus fitted in they do hot get pulled off in handling. Strong handles should be 

 made on each end and also cleats on the outside of- side slats — as these upright cleats 

 prevent the end from splitting. The cover should be made of half inch stuffy with two 

 strong cleats over the ends, and on the under side of the cover, cleats £ inch squaro 

 nailed across, so that when the cover is closed one of these cleats will cover over the 

 edge of each row of baskets, thus holding them in their place. 



When shipped have your name marked plainly on top, and the consignor's name on 

 each end of crate. The object in having such directions on the end of the crate is 

 that the party to whom you ship may see at a glance just what he has without wait- 

 ing for a whole car load to be unloaded. 



Fig. 5 is a plan for laying out a square piece of land for a fruit and vegetable plot 

 — say twenty acres. Fig. 1, the entrance gate ; %, the center road or drive, twelve 

 feet wide ; 3, 3, 3, 8, roads nine feet wide. These roads run around the field, twelve 

 to sixteen rods away from the fence, and twenty-four to thirty-two rods from the 

 wide road 2, owing, of course, to the size of the field. Figs. 4, 4, denote a narrow 

 path of four feet in width, to divide these wide plots into ',' lands" of" twelve to six- 

 teen rods wide from east to west. Fruit rows — unless it be grapes — should not exceed 

 sixteen rods in length ; 5, 5, 5, S, 5, 5, are small, cheap sheds for packing the fruit in 

 to keep out of the sun, as no fruit should stand in the sun and wind longer than possi- 

 ble after being packed. These sheds should be made so as to face the north, so that 

 the sun cannot shine into them. Figs. 6, 6, Grapes, set twelve feet each way, and 

 grown on trellises, the trellis running east and west from center road to the fences on 

 east and west side of lot, leaving an opening, however, for a path to run from the 

 north fence to the two corner packing sheds, so that the grapes will not have to be 

 carried the whole length of the plantation to pack in the shed near the entrance gate. 

 Figs. 7, 7, currants and gooseberries, six feet apart so as to be cultivated both ways, 

 or they can be planted in rows running north and south, four feet apart in the row. 

 If set so as to cultivate both ways, early potatoes or tomatoes can be set half way be- 

 tween both ways for at least two seasons, or until the currants and grapes get so large 

 as to take up the ground. If set in rows, a row of strawberries can be set half way 

 between and yield full crops for two seasons. Two rows of strawberries can be grown 

 between the grapes also, running east and west as long as desired, so long as the grapes 

 are kept well enriched. Figs. 8, 8, blackberry and raspberry rows, running east and 

 west, rf in rows — say seven feet apart and four feet apart in rows, or if in hills the 

 first seven feet apart each way and the last six feet. Figs. 9, 9, south road running 



