FOR PROFIT. 209 



before the bunches are all coloured, for tarts. But for 

 jelly and jam making the fruit must be ripe. In pack- 

 ing, keep out all leaves, and pack full weight. 



Raspberries will pay in punnets as soon as Straw- 

 berries begin to fail, as will good samples of ripe 

 Gooseberries. Raspberries in tubs must be sent off 

 as soon after gathering as possible, or they ferment 

 in transit ; by passenger trains would be best. Where 

 fruit is picked by piecework, the pickers, in their 

 hurry, are not careful to make an even sample, or 

 take care to prevent smashing of currants, etc. It is 

 best to pay by the day and well overlook the pickers. 

 Slack hands need not be kept on. The fruit bottlers 

 prefer to have Raspberries delivered in ilb. punnets, 

 as this soft fruit smashes in bulk, and when carefully 

 picked it keeps whole in the bottles and sells better. 

 Contracts for this delivery with the bottlers is 

 advisable. 



In the last weeks in July, some of the Early Cooking 

 Apples will be growing out, and where the trees are 

 heavily cropped, it will pay to thin out the largest 

 fruits for market, even if the prices realised only pay 

 for the labour, the trees benefit, and will be enabled 

 to perfect the rest of their crop. 



Hoe Young Strawberry Plantations for next year's 

 crop, and keep the surface free from weeds and stones. 

 The work of removing the straw from the old straw- 

 berry fields, and running the broadshare plough between 

 the rows will be needed as soon as the fruit is all 

 picked, and can be better done before the corn harvest 

 work begins. The Strawberry runners are cut off at 

 the same time. Keep down aphis blight as before. 

 Q 



