226 



TO MARKET BERRIES. 



immediately takes root, and in course of time goes 

 through the same process as its parent, and by that 

 means is capable of clothing a large area with their 

 dark green leathery leaves. While not "showy" 



ScOLOPENDRUiM \ I LuARE CRISTATUM. 



or of especial beauty, the whole process of repro- 

 duction in this fern is extremely interesting to the 



true nature lover, who will watch its gradual pro- 

 gress with that keen delight which always rewards 

 the searcher into the wonders of plant-growth. 

 When growing these quaint ferns, it should be borne 

 in mind that none of them are of any use to cut 

 for florist's use ; they soon wilt, and are not at all 

 handsome for use as single fronds, but a lover of 

 plants will always find a place and use for them, 

 in that part of his planting which is done for the 

 individual interest and charm of the subjects. If 

 he succeeds as well as one collector did, who, wish- 

 ing to keep intruders off his premises, had a notice 

 posted on his garden path to this effect, "Tramps, 

 beware ! scolopendriums and adiantums are plant- 

 ed here ! " even the formidable name will have been 

 of some use. 



There are thus many quaint and often delicately 

 beautiful forms of plant growth which appear only 

 to the botanist, because he only is apt to look be- 

 yong the plants of the " catalogue trade." 



Samuel Henshaw. 



HOW TO MARKET BERRIES. 



BY AN OLD MARKET-MAN. 



STRAWBERRIES. 



As moisture after picking causes all small fruit to 

 decay, you should avoid as much as possible pick- 

 ing while the dew is on or when the plants are wet 

 from rain. By delaying the picking a short time 

 the fruit will dry off, gind it will keep and carry 

 better, and consequently bring better prices in the 

 market. This is a point that is very often over- 

 looked in the hurry to get the fruit to market. 



Great care should be taken to have the picker pick all 

 the ripe berries at each picking, as any left and picked 

 next time will be over-ripe, and tend to destroy the 

 sound fruit. The juice of one soft berry will ferment 

 and spoil and injure the whole quart, and frequently the 

 whole package. Care should also be taken that there 

 are no unripe or small berries mixed in the packages. 

 The packages should be well filled and rounded, so 

 that they will be full when they reach market — the deal- 

 er will bless you for this, and the customer will be happy 

 too. Of course, in doing'this you may give more ber- 

 ries to a crate than your neighbor, but it will pay you 

 better. 



In finishing off the packages, the top layer should be 

 placed stem down, and the bright side of the berry up. 

 They should be carried to a shady place, and be allowed 

 to stand where the wind can blow over them to cool the 

 berries and to carry off any moisture that may be on 

 them before the packages are placed in the crate. The 

 cover of the crate should be left open until ready to 



load, to give air as long as possible ; keep the crates in 

 a cool and shady place. 



If the berries are sandy, as they frequently are after a 

 shower, put them up without washing and do not top off 



SCOLOPENDRIUM VULGARE L ATO-DIG ITATUM 



