SHIPMENT OF RED RASPBERRIES. 15 
Three fingers distribute the pressure more evenly and greatly lessen 
liability from injury, provided no more pressure is applied than is 
necessary to separate the berries from the receptacle. 
SORTING AS TO OVERRIPENESS. 
One of the most common causes of decay and deterioration is 
carelessness in sorting berries into their proper grades at the time 
of picking. Berries ‘intended for long-distance shipment must be 
at as nearly the same stage of development as possible, with none 
overripe or soft at the time of picking. Every grower knows when 
a berry is in ideal condition for long-distance shipment and strives 
to have his pickers exercise precaution and care to place only 
sound, uninjured, unbroken, properly matured berries in the cups. 
Fig. 14.—Delivering red raspberries at the receiving station at Puyallup, Wash., types 
ot vehicles ranging from carts to large drays and express wagons being used for 
auling. 
This practically means removal of the berries from the vines as_ 
quickly as they will slip off the core. Overripe and soft berries 
- when mixed with the properly handled and properly matured ones 
cause the spoilage of the whole cup and reduce the value of the whole 
erate. A soft berry will soon break down; molds will gain entrance 
and not only cause the decay of the single berry but spread through- 
out the cup. Too much emphasis can not be placed on faultless 
sorting. 
PROMPTNESS AND QUICKNESS IN COOLING. 
Apparently the ripening processes of red raspberries continue very 
actively after the fruit is removed from the vine, and especially if 
the temperatures are relatively high. To arrest the physiological 
activities which constitute ripening, to retard and prevent the ger- 
mination of mold spores, and to retard the development and growth 
