PICKING. 



89 



claimed for this plan is, that the proprietor may make 

 the entry in ))is book without walking to the picker to 

 present a ticket. It certainly allows him more liberty, 

 and a better opportunity to look after the pickers, and 

 keep them straight. 



Jos. C. Hinchman has adopted this mode : he uses a 

 dilferent colored pencil for keeping the record of each 

 day of the week, which enables him to tell just what has 

 been done upon any day. When the hands are paid off 

 the record is cancelled. 



The fruit may be put up for market either in barrels or 

 boxes ; if the former are used, new barrels should be ob- 

 tained, with a capacity of two bushels and three pecks 

 each. When second-hand ones, holding three bushels, 

 are used, they must be filled, and then will sell for no 

 more than the standard barrel. 



The peck of fruit thus lost to the growler would pny 

 for the new package. Xew " cranberry barrels " may be 

 had in Philadelphia for fifty-eight cents apiece. 



If bushel boxes are preferred, they may be made in the 

 following manner : Take a board, three-fourths of an inch 

 thick, and 6 inches wide, and saw it into pieces 18 inches 

 long ; then, using two of these pieces for ends, nail 

 around them strips of ordinary plastering lath, 2 feet in 

 length, leaving spaces between them for ventilation. The 

 strength of the box may be increased by nailing strips 

 over the ends of the lath ; these strips will also answer a 

 good purpose in keeping the boxes slightly separated 

 when stored in large quantities. These packages hold a 

 heaped bushel, and cost, at this time, about twenty cents 

 each. For Xew Jersey standard packages see p. 129. 



Barrels are the most desirable for shipping in ; but even 

 where they are used, it is best to have a lot of ventilated 

 boxes for drying wet berries in, previous to barreling 

 them. They will be found useful during damp days, or 

 early in the morning, while dew is on the fruit. 



