82 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



bottom raised in the centre, so that they can be placed 

 one upon another when filled ; but all produce packed 

 in them requires to be covered with some protective 

 material on the surface. Even with this care, however, 

 the top layers are liable to injury, as with all lidless 

 baskets where the contents are packed above the rim. 

 There is also an unfortunate tendency to " top-dress " in 

 packing such baskets, i.e. surfacing with better samples 

 than the bulk. This is a species of dishonesty which is 

 apt to recoil upon the packer, for if the upper layer 

 becomes damaged or disturbed the difference is at once 

 observed, and the value is lowered proportionately, 

 besides doing a lasting injury to the grower's reputation. 

 Except for the coarsest, hardest fruits, or the least 

 delicate vegetables, these open baskets are objectionable 

 in several ways ; but it is difficult to convince those who 

 are accustomed to using them that they are faulty. Such 

 baskets have been employed by the growers in the 

 London district for many years, and it is only in a few cases 

 where improved forms or other modes of packing have 

 been substituted. Yet even when a good covering is 

 provided, the contents of such baskets are very in^ 

 adequately protected from either damage or loss ; and 

 though the material used is of insignificant value in small 

 quantities, in large establishments it becomes a consider- 

 able item, in addition to the labour of application. 

 Occasionally sheets of old newspaper are thought 

 sufficient, with the result that three parts are torn off 

 before the market is reached, both labour and material 

 being wasted. Again, some will dispense with all 

 covering, and we have seen large consignments of ripe 

 strawberries, raspberries, plums, and gooseberries for- 

 warded in open pecks or half-sieves on a long road and 

 rail journey, exposed to dust and contamination of all 

 kinds, to be converted into "choice" preserves when 

 they arrived at their destination, some twelve hours after 

 they left the ground. 



