1922.] 



Standardisation of Chip Baskets. 



607 



the variety grown, and size of berry. In the present investiga- 

 tion attention was mainly directed towards ascertaining the 

 necessary cubic capacity of a basket for packing 3 lb., 4 lb., 

 and 6 lb. of the more common varieties of strawberries, and 

 the actual space occupied by, say, 1 lb. of strawberries. For 

 these investigations the sample baskets Nos. 4 to 22 were used 

 and filled with fresh berries of the Eoyal Sovereign strawberry 

 picked in the middle of the season. As a result of many tests 

 it would appear that 1 lb. of strawberries actually occupied 

 a space of some 58 cu. in. 



As strawberries, however, vary considerably in size and must 

 not be pressed in the basket, it is obviously impossible always 

 to pack the same weight in a constant capacity or to allow 

 only 58 cu. in. for each lb.; furthermore, it is necessary to 

 leave space so that fruit will travel with less risk of injury. 

 The package then requires to be J in. in height over and above 

 the capacity actually occupied by the fruit. A short review 

 of the table would show that samples No. 1, 2 and 3 are made 

 to carry 2 lb. of strawberries, though No. 3 is unnecessarily 

 large. The 2 lb. chip, however, is not favoured by railway 

 companies on account of its small size. The experience of 

 many growers and distributors shows that there is a real need 

 for a package holding small quantities of strawberries suitable 

 for sale intact by retail and that berries so packed realise higher 

 prices than when packed 3 lb. or 4 lb., in support of which 

 one might refer to the development in the Tamar Valley of 

 the non-returnable crates holding 54 punnets, each containing 

 J lb. fruit; and of the chip containers holding eight 1 lb. 

 punnets in use in the Swanwick area. 



The nine samples numbered 4 to 12 and sent out by the 

 makers for packing 3 lb. of strawberries have capacities varying 

 between 160 and 215 cu. in., the difference between the largest 

 and smallest being 55 cu. in. The basket No. 4 cannot possibly 

 hold 3 lb. of frpshly picked strawberries. No. 5 is too small for 

 3 lb. of large but might take 3 lb. of small berries. No. 6 

 carries 3 lb. if the centre is raised to the level of the top but 

 would be too small for 3 lb. lighter weight berries than Eoyal 

 Sovereign. No. 7 has a slightly larger margin, which is further 

 increased in Nos. 8 and 9. No. 10 is of sufficient capacity to 

 hold 3 lb. of almost any variety of berry well below the level 

 of the top. Nos. 11 and 12 are unnecessarily large. The 

 figures would indicate that a working standard for strawberries 

 can be fixed between 190 cu. in. and 200 cu. in. 



