44 STRAWBERRIES 
somewhat elaborate system has to be followed. In the 
case of forced fruits it is a good plan partly to wrap each 
in a piece of leaf, packing them close together in a single 
layer in a shallow, well-made box. ‘There should be a 
layer of cotton-wool in the bottom and along the sides 
of the box, but the fluffy side must be downwards if the 
sheets have been opened. All the fruits should point 
the same way, and be slightly inclined, so as to appear 
partly to overlap each other. Cover them with straw- 
berry leaves, so that when the box lid is fixed down, the 
contents do not move about during carriage. 
The earliest and finest outdoor fruits can be suitably 
packed in round or square punnets, placing two or three 
strawberry leaves at the bottom and sides. For supply- 
ing town houses, or sending to market, a convenient 
method is that of packing the punnets in light boxes 
made to hold one, two, three, or even five layers, each 
layer consisting of a dozen punnets, and divided from 
its neighbour by strips of wood supported at either end. 
Needless to say, the punnets must just fit the box, and 
the strawberries must not be heaped up in the punnets. 
For supplying the market the aim should be to fill each 
punnet with the same weight of fruit, as this facilitates 
business. Punnets vary in price from 2s. to 4s. per 
gross, according to size and quality. 
Later in the season pecks are extensively used, and - 
when the fruit is picked dry and ere it is fully ripe, it 
travels remarkably well in these wicker baskets ; indeed, 
the bulk of the fruit sold so cheaply in London and other 
large centres comes from the growers in these recep- 
tacles. One reason why firm strawberries travel so well 
in pecks is that they have ample ventilation. 
The more tasteful and honest the packing the better 
are the prices realised, and it always pays to grade 
the fruits, even in the case of such a soft kind as 
strawberries. 
