650 



The Strawberry Crop. 



[Oct., 



way Companies, and were thus able to render assistance which 

 appears to have been much appreciated by those concerned. 



The Inspectors, being in touch with the business of picking 

 and dispatch of the fruit, were able to study local methods and 

 to note especially the kind of package used in each district, the 

 type of van provided by the various Railway Campanies and the 

 treatment meted out to the produce during transit. A large 

 amount of valuable information was collected and it is now pos- 

 sible to publish facts of some importance which the general public 

 as well as all those engaged in the industry should know. It is 

 hoped that a study of these facts may lead to further develop- 

 ments, and in particular, to the general adoption of a standard 

 package, to better method of packing, and to more adequate and 

 appropriate means, as well as methods of transport. 



Packages. — The growers, speaking generally, use for straw- 

 berries a Hght basket, made of veneer, called " chip." It is light 

 in weight and proportionately small in cost. The question of 

 uniformity in size has received but little consideration. It is 

 probable that baskets of some 12 or 15 different sizes are in use, 

 which naturally hold different quantities of fruit ; the baskets of 

 fruit, moreover, are seldom weighed before dispatch. Such a 

 lack of system is bound to cause confusion on the market, bewil- 

 derment to the buyer, and increased cost to the consumer. For 

 example the Tamar Valley uses a locally-made basket holding 

 about 3 lb. of fruit; the Hampshire and Wisbech growers use a 

 very slightly larger basket which is sent to market as a 4-lb. 

 basket ; Cheddar growers use a larger basket into which they pack 

 4 lb. of fruit; Kent and Middlesex growers use the 1-lb. chip 

 punnett for dessert " quality and the 10-lb. peck or tray for 



jam" fruit. The confusion could be avoided, the bewilder- 

 ment cleared and the cost to the consumer lessened by the adop- 

 tion of a standard " basket, and withal, the grower would stand 

 to gain. Which is the best size of basket to use? Should it 

 hold 4 lb., B lb. or 2 lb. of fruit? To settle these questions all 

 sections of the industry must confer together, and decide upon a 

 basket that will be acceptable alike to growers, wholesalers and 

 retailers. Judging from the observations of the Inspectors as 

 well as from other indications a basket large enough to permit 

 of 3 lb. being' packed so that the top of the fruit is below the 

 level of the rim, would appear to be the most likely to gain 

 general acceptance. ' 



Again, a cover is usually placed over each basket of fruit,, 

 particularly for transport by railway. For this purpose, muslin,. 



