10 
BULLETIN 688, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
of a 16-quart crate of strawberries is from 27 to 31 pounds, arid the 
postage to points within the first and second postal zones (approxi- 
mately 150 miles) is from 31 to 35 cents. Therefore the cost of the 
crate and postage for shipping 16 quarts of strawberries is from 50 
to 60 cents. The charges for postage will average about 2 cents per 
quart on a shipment of 16 quarts. For shipments of less than 16 
quarts the cost per quart for both the crate and the postage will be 
relatively higher. 
Whether or not a grower will profit by shipping strawberries by 
parcel post can be decided only b} T giving due consideration to all 
of the various factors entering into the proposition. Some of these 
factors are the cost of marketing by this method and the net returns 
to be realized as compared with the expense and profits incidental 
to other methods of marketing, the quantity of berries to be marketed, 
the location of the shipper with reference to his post office and his 
market, and the ability of the shipper to develop and maintain a 
mail-order business. 
BLACKBERRIES. 
During 1915 and 1916, 34 experimental shipments of blackberries 
were made by parcel post. Practically all of these shipments were 
made in crates with a capacity of 16 quarts. The blackberries 
were shipped an average of 162 miles, and an average of 22 hours 
elapsed between the time the berries were shipped and the time they 
were received. During a large part of these two seasons the weather 
was very unfavorable for shipping berries by parcel post. In a 
number of instances the berries were too ripe for shipping when they 
were picked. Seven shipments were received in good condition, 
18 in fair condition, and, largely because of delay in delivery, 9 ship- 
ments were received in poor condition. The berries in 25 of the ship- 
ments were fit to use but in some instances were rather soft. 
Most of the shipments in which the berries were received in poor 
condition were made in unventilated crates. In shipping blackberries 
by parcel post the use of ventilated crates is recommended, as the 
berries undoubtedly break down from lack of ventilation in crates 
made with solid sides. While berries shipped in unventilated con- 
tainers may be fit for use on arrival at destination, the}" are usually 
soft and settled in the baskets and are unattractive in appearance. 
If a grower wishes to ship blackberries by parcel post, he should 
exercise care in picking and packing the berries. Carelessness in 
picking and handling blackberries sometimes causes more injury to 
the fruit than does the treatment given while in transit. Success 
in shipping blackberries is dependent largely on favorable weather 
conditions and the way in which the fruit is handled in transit. 
