16 JOURNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Strawberries are often put on the market in by no means the 

 most appetising and attractive form. The fruits are badly selected and 

 frequently unripe ; and insufficiently coloured fruits of different sizes are 

 to be found in the same basket. Each package should contain in every 

 layer fruit of a uniform size, and higher prices can be realised by such 

 selection. In order to avoid damaging the appearance of the fruit by 

 hand gathering, Strawberries are gathered with scissors into baskets in 

 Dresden and other places ; sometimes stout paper or cardboard baskets 

 are used. 



America, however, leads the way in the management of the Straw- 

 berry harvest. The demand for Strawberries and for soft fruits generally, 

 is there so large that thousands of acres are devoted to their cultivation, 

 and the growers use every endeavour to offer the fruit to the public in 

 as fresh and untouched a condition as possible, and in a convenient manner. 

 Gathering begins as early as possible in the morning, as it has been found 

 that fruit which is picked during the warmer part of the day does not 

 possess its full flavour nor travel well. Gathering scissors are generally 

 used, which both cut and hold the fruit. The women who are employed 

 in gathering become extremely skilful in selecting only uniform fruits 

 for the punnets. These are lined with and, after filling, covered with 

 Strawberry leaves, so as to keep the fruit as fresh as possible. The punnets, 

 which only cost about one halfpenny each, are collected (when filled) by 

 other employes and are packed in cases which are constructed of wood, 

 with spaces between the boards, so as to allow the air to circulate freely. 

 This system prevents the fruit from becoming heated, and is generally 

 adopted in America for the despatch of all kinds of soft fruits. Fifteen 

 punnets are placed at the bottom of the case in three rows of five each. 

 Each row is covered with a thin board on which a further fifteen punnets 

 are placed. The cases generally hold three layers, or forty-five punnets 

 in all, and after being secured are carefully carried away by their rope 

 handles. 



The carriage to distant places is preferably by water, when possible, 

 as the fruit keeps better in this mode of transport. Arrived at their desti- 

 nation, the cases are received and put on the market by the agent, so that 

 the public is able to buy the Strawberries fresh, untouched, and in the 

 best condition possible, only a few hours after their being gathered, and 

 better prices are consequently obtained. 



Another kind of case is used in the neighbourhood of Metz, where large 

 quantities of Strawberries are grown for the preserving factories. It 

 consists of shallow trays which fit into a frame made of crossed laths. 

 A strong close lid completes the case, which is held down by two iron 

 rods running through the laths, which are sealed with lead. The fruits 

 lie spread flat and close to each other on the trays, and arrive in good 

 condition provided the railway servants handle them with sufficient 

 care. 



For the despatch of Bilberries and Cranberries shallow chip baskets 

 of oblong shape and fitted with handles are used in Odenwald. These 

 hold about 12 lbs. of fruit each, and when filled, canvas or some other 

 coarse material is sewed over the top, or when there are waggonloads the 

 baskets are placed one across the other. This form of basket is made in 



