264 



SMALL FEUIT CTJLTURIST. 



weeks, and a very large extra supply of baskets will be 

 necessary to jDrevent a corresponding loss. 



Ten thousand baskets, with a corresponding number of 

 crates, should be provided, if a thousand baskets are to be 

 picked per day. 



To the inexperienced in these matters, this may seem 

 to be an unnecessary outlay, but fruit growers in the East- 

 em States, at least, have learned that a little, or consider- 

 able, extra capital invested in baskets will quite often 

 insure them against great losses. 



Any one who has ever looked through the New York 

 markets, soon after the close of the Strawberry season, 

 must have noticed thousands of baskets and crates lying 

 around loose, or being piled up in the streets, where the 

 boys make bonfires of them at night, and thus the prop- 

 erty of the fruit grower is often destroyed through the 

 willful neo'lect of those to whom the fi'uit was consig:ned. 



Many remedies have been tried to prevent this waste, 

 but none have been entirely successful, unless it be that 

 of sending very cheap baskets and crates, which it is not 

 expected Avill be returned. Many fruit growers are adopt- 

 ing this give away system, and under some circumstances 

 it is probably the best, but under others it is doubtful if 

 it is the most profitable in the end. 



An attractive exterior is a good passport, even in the 

 fruit line, and I know of many instances where fruit put 

 up in handsome baskets, and enclosed in extra finished 

 crates, has sold for almost double the price of that sent 

 to market in an inferior style of crate and basket. 



Many instances might be given in which neat^ clean 

 packages and carefully selected fruit, have well paid the 

 gi'ower for all his extra trouble and expense in sending it 

 to market. If a man desires to secure a good reputation 

 for the products of his garden and farm^ he will see to it 

 that they leave his premises in the best possible order, 

 and be sure to put his name on each crate or other pack- 



