Packing Vegetables 



215 



labels if need be, and properly sorted and arranged, 

 and places them in the hands of an enterprising grocer 

 who caters to the best trade, he will not need to 

 peddle his wares. The grower for the home market 

 must be sure to have his vegetables in season ; and he 

 will do well, also, to provide a continuous and varied 

 supply, for thereby he can hold his customers. He 

 must set a standard and live up to it. These re- 

 marks may not apply to those who grow things on 

 a large scale, but such persons usually find special 

 means and outlets for disposing of their products : 

 because they have found such outlets is the reason for 

 the growth of their business. 



1. PACKING 



Conditions have changed within a generation. This 

 is the day of small and special packages. Every pair 

 of shoes is in a special box. Formerly prices for 

 vegetables were high, and the gardens were near the 

 markets. Now the prices are low, and gardens are 

 often a thousand miles from the consumer. Then, 

 barrels and miscellaneous boxes could be used ; now 

 attractive packages are often necessary to advertise the 

 products, and strong ones are essential in order to 

 provide safe transportation. The following extracts 

 from Alfred Henderson* indicate how times have 

 changed : 



"For thirty years prior to 1875 market -gardening 



♦Chapter on horticulture in Depew's " One Hundred Years of American Com- 

 merce," 1895. 



