5i8 



Marketing Wild Fruits. 



[OCT., 



fruits produced from cross-pollination on all six varieties had 

 an average weight of 79 -i grams. There was, therefore, 

 practically no gain in the total number of cross-pollinated 

 fruits, but a slight gain in weight. Although it does not appear 

 necessary to raise several varieties for the purpose of cross- 

 pollination, there is no harm in alternating such varieties as 

 are grown, and in some cases a possible benefit, such as a slight 

 increase in weight, may be obtained. All the experiments, 

 however, show that the setting of a good crop of smooth, heavy 

 fruit depends largely on the care taken in distributing the 

 pollen. (U.S. Farmers Bulletin, No. 317.) 



The Irish Department of Agriculture have issued some 

 information as to the method of marketing several of the 

 commoner wild fruits. 

 Marketing Wild Blackberries. — Blackberries should be 

 Fruits. gathered when they have a blue-black 



bloom ; red, unripe berries spoil the 

 flavour of the remainder, and do not ripen with storage, 

 while " dead-black," over-ripe fruit will not bear carriage 

 by cart or train, and is generally mashed and often mouldy 

 on delivery. When blackberries can be delivered not later 

 than 9 a.m. and within twenty-four hours from the time 

 of gathering, they may be marketed in chip baskets of 

 1 gallon capacity. Fruit marketed in this way is usually 

 consigned to salesmen. The method is most likely to succeed 

 in the early part of the season. It is advisable to use the card- 

 board covers made for these baskets ; the cover not only pro- 

 tects the fruit from dirt and pilferage, but serves for use as 

 an address label ; the covers should be fastened to the baskets 

 by string ; the most secure method is to lace them to the rim 

 of the basket, but they are generally tied on. It is also advis- 

 able when packing soft fruits such as blackberries to place a 

 piece of grease-proof paper in the bottom of each basket, as it 

 protects the fruit from damage and prevents waste. Suitable 

 grease-proof paper ^an be bought for about 6s. per ream ; 

 one ream will suffice for 3,840 baskets. When fruit is to^be 

 -forwarded in baskets, reliable pickers only should be employed, 

 the greatest cleanliness observed, and the fruit left m the baskets 



