140 



Strawberry-Grovdng 



Fio. 7. — Ameri- 

 can standard venti- 

 lated box. 



SO as to avoid crushing the berries below. There is no 

 division frame between layers. No tight package for 

 strawberries other than the Hallock now is in use, but 

 some northern growers who cater to a special trade wrap 

 each box in parchment paper. This 

 keeps the berries bright and prevents 

 them from absorbing taints. If left on 

 too long, the paper, itself, may taint 

 the berries by preventing the normal ex- 

 halations from passing away. 

 Ventilated or slat crates and venti- 

 lated splint boxes — now called "American Standard 

 Boxes " (Fig. 7), have steadily grown in favor, which in- 

 dicates that ventilation has been found desirable by most 

 shippers. The layers in the crate are separated by parti- 

 tions, thus permitting free circulation of air around every 

 box. A box with several holes in each side has been 

 put on the market, but experience has shown that the 

 ordinary American box provides enough ventilation. The 

 American box is square, with slightly flaring sides ; this 

 is preferable to 

 round or octag- 

 onal boxes. 



The long octag- 

 onal, or "Leslie" 

 box, which has 

 been used mostly 

 in the Mississippi 

 Valley, is the least desirable type. Like the Hallock, it 

 is shipped in the flat ; it has notches in the corners where 

 the bottom drops in (Fig. 8). No partitions are used be- 

 tween layers of boxes. The raised bottoms make this 

 unnecessary, and are not, as many consiuners suppose, 



Fig. 8. — Octagonal, or " Leslie " box. 



