BASKETS Jl^XD CBAI£S. 87 



CHAPTEE XV. 



BASKETS AND CRATES. 



"W^ nare now followed the peach from the kernel to 

 iae mature tree, loaded with its rich burden of delicious 

 and health giving fruit. 



The next thing is to get it to market. But before this 

 is done, several preliminary matters have to be arranged. 

 And among these. Baskets and Crates are prominent. 

 The standard size of a peach basket is five-eighths of a 

 bushel, struck measure. This size has been adopted and 

 fixed by the "Peninsular Fruit Growers' Association," 

 and upon it all collateral calculations are made. The 

 baskets are usually about eight inches 

 in diameter at the bottom, fiaring to 

 about sixteen inches at the top. The 

 Stave Basket now supersedes all oth- 

 ers in general use. It has these 

 qualities to commend it. It is light, 

 reasonably strong and cheap. Bas- 

 kets of this kind are made in large 

 Fig. 11.— STAVE quantities at almost every large ship- 

 BASKET. pJQg point in the Peninsula, and cost 



ifrom five to six dollars per hundred. They give better 

 satisfaction than any other yet produced, and, for general 

 shipment, these are preferred to all others, and indeed to 

 all other kinds of packages. 



For a long time there has been a general and strong 

 desire to obtain a still cheaper basket that might be sold 

 or given with the fruit; but so far none costing less than 

 five cents, and yet sufficiently strong to carry safely, has 

 been produced ; and it is doubtful whether such an one 



