8o THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



consumer, tender fruits are fit to look at or to eat when 

 they reach their journey's end, yet a large proportion of 

 British garden produce has to go through this pro- 

 gramme as a regular part of the business that is to some 

 extent unavoidable under present conditions. Ought it 

 to be necessary to point out that the utmost care in 

 packing is an absolute essential if the grower expects 

 his goods to arrive in even decent condition ? It seems 

 almost like insulting the intelligence of practical men to 

 question the matter at all, yet a visit to any of the 

 markets when the consignments are opened is a revela- 

 tion, and would supply an answer, unexpected but true, 

 namely, that packing is much too frequently and too 

 generally neglected. 



In conjunction with a cumbrous and antiquated system 

 of marketing, this neglect is one of the causes of low 

 prices and the resulting dissatisfaction, with disputes 

 between sender and salesman. It is a defect that can 

 be removed or at least greatly reduced, and it should 

 no more be tolerated in a market garden business than 

 it would be in any other where goods of a less perishable 

 character are dealt with. What is the use in giving the 

 best skill to cultivation if every effort is to be heavily 

 discounted at the last by the neglect of so simple a 

 matter as packing, with due regard to providing for 

 safe arrival at the journey's end ? 



Baskets. — By far the major part of home-grown fruits and 

 vegetables is conveyed to market in baskets, and though 

 some of these are of awkward shapes or sizes, and by no 

 means up to date as regards general convenience, yet for 

 many crops there are several points in their favour. 

 When well made they are strong and durable ; in pro- 

 portion to their size the best are light, and therefore do 

 not add much to the cost of carriage ; while the 

 ventilation provided is beneficial to some crops conveyed 

 in bulk. Taking the durability into consideration, a 



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