1 1 6 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



into even-size pods for the purpose, and the bundles are 

 then packed in hampers or boxes. Later out-of-doors 

 supplies are placed direct into baskets or boxes, and with 

 them as with Runners, Broad Beans and Peas no packing 

 material is required beyond a sheet of paper as a 

 covering. A trade has been developed by some growers 

 in shelled peas, which are consigned in small boxes 

 holding about 3 quarts each, direct to hotels, to shop- 

 keepers, or private buyers. Where the labour of women 

 and girls can be had cheaply, and a sufficient demand is 

 secured, this work pays well. In large markets (like 

 Covent Garden) it is carried out extensively by certain 

 salesmen. 



Mustard and Cress are packed in small punnets 

 separately, and where this is extensively grown under 

 glass^the cutting and packing is an important business. 

 Special punnets are employed, somewhat smaller than the 

 I lb. plaited punnets used for Strawberries. Sufficient 

 is cut with each sweep of a curved knife to fill a basket, 

 and considerable practice is needed, both in the cutting 

 and packing, to avoid waste and to secure an even and 

 neatly filled punnet. The work must be done with 

 great rapidity, too, where some thousands of punnets 

 are despatched every morning in the season. The punnets 

 are packed in baskets or boxes for travelling. 



Other vegetables which are marketed in bulk and do 

 not admit of being bunched are packed in the same way 

 as the respective bundles, namely in baskets, boxes, 

 crates, or bags, unless they can be placed direct into 

 the waggons like Cabbages, Broccoli, Savoys, etc., for 

 conveyance by road. The earlier and choicer salads and 

 vegetables, such as Lettuces, Endive, Cauliflowers, are 

 preferably packed in large flat baskets with lids. The 

 later supplies of those named, together with cabbages 

 and other green vegetables, are most conveniently packed 

 in the large wicker crates we have previously described. 



