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BULLETIN 688, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
CONTAINERS. 
Various kinds and sizes of containers were used in making the 
experimental shipments of strawberries. Some of the crates that 
were used are illustrated in figure 2. 
Data obtained indicate that a crate which permits ventilation is 
necessary for shipping berries by parcel post. The crates which 
gave the best results were made with slatted sides and bottoms, and 
were provided with racks or dividers to separate each layer of baskets. 
Fig. 2. — Various sizes and styles of crates used in making experimental shipments of l.erries and cherries. 
Figure 3 shows all parts and the construction of a style of crate that 
gave satisfaction in experimental shipments. 
The baskets used in these crates were the standard square berry 
baskets which are smaller at the bottom than at the top. This con- 
struction allows a circulation of air around each basket of fruit. 
Experiments were made with crates holding pint baskets as well as 
with those holding quart baskets. In a few instances the berries in 
the quart baskets arrived in better condition than those in the pint 
baskets, but in most cases no difference was noticed. 
In nearly every shipment the berries in the top layer or tier of 
baskets were softer and had settled more than the berries in the other 
layer or layers. In the crates which were used the first season that 
