178 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
PlAT, 
difficult for farmers to believe what has been taught 
by Messrs. Lawes & Gilbert, viz., that the value of 
the manure made from a ton of clover hay, or wheat 
bran, may be more than the actual value of these 
foods in the market ; if these experiments show by 
actual practice that it is so, we may look for a great 
improvement in our methods of farming, if farmers 
can be only brought to accept and practice upon it. 
Experiment Stations, in which theories may be 
brought to the test of practicej are what we want, 
and now one of the best farms in England will be 
converted into a great Experiment Station, to verify 
or disprove the teachings of the chemists. 
Preparation and Work for the Berry- 
Season.— Good Fruit Brings Grood Prices. 
In the coi\rse -of the season we are in the way of 
seeing a great deal of produce ; by taking different 
streets to and from the otiiee and the boat upon 
■which we make part of our journey to our home in 
the country, we can pass many of the principal 
commission houses, and find it interesting and 
instructive to examine the arrivals of fruit and 
vegetables from all parts of the country. The eiiect 
of seeing so much produce, is not to impress us 
very favorably with the good sense of the majority 
of producers. While the dealers send to their cus- 
tomers circulars enforcing the fact that their re- 
turns will depend upon the quality of their produce, 
and the condition in wliich it reaches the market, 
and the same has been reiterated by the American 
Af/rirndtKrUt and other papers, the fact nevertheless 
remains, that much of the " stuif " — as the dealers 
properly call it— should never have left the place 
on which it was grown. 
Every one who sends fruitto market, should under- 
**and that it is sold by its appearance. It is not the 
A POPUUlB bekbt okate. 
name of the variety or its flavor that sells it, but it 
must look tempting to the buyer. He must con- 
sider two things : his packages, and his packing, 
and we will consider these with reference to straw- 
berries, the first fruit, and one which is already 
being forwarded from southern localities. The 
customs of the markets in different cities vary con- 
siderably, and the present remarks apply to New 
York, where strawbeiTies are never, as in some 
Western markets, sent in bulk or large drawers, and 
measured or weighed out to the buyer. 
Baskets axd Crates, of whatever pattern, must 
have one thing well provided for — ventilation, and 
the greater the distance the fruit is to be sent, the 
more important this becomes. As to the shape of 
the basket, whether round or square, each has its 
advantages, and growers are about equally divided 
in practice. Fruit shows better in round baskets, 
while square ones pack better and carry safer. 
Recollect that good fruit will seU in either. Venti- 
lation, freedom from any edges that may cut the 
berries, and f uU measure are to be sought for in any 
basket, and in the use of old baskets neatness must 
be regarded ; fruit stains can not be avoided, but 
dust, adhering bits of bruised fruit, and other blem- 
ishes, may be. In selecting the crate, after the 
prime consideration — ventilation — size is of next 
importance : those who handle the crates are hu- 
man, and will set a hea^'y one down hard ; 60 pints 
snd 36 quarts are as mamy ss a crate ebould ever 
contain, and a less number is preferable. The crate 
made by N. D. Batterson, Buflalo, N. T., has met 
with much acceptance by the growers in Western 
New York, and elsewhere, as combining strength, 
it being well secured at the corners, with lightness, 
and proper ventilation. The engraving shows its 
structure. When the crates are new they need not 
be painted, so far as appearance is concerned, but 
they should be painted when they become soiled. 
Makkdms is done by a stencU-plate, which is much 
preferable to a card tacked to the crate. Whatever 
the manner of marking, it should be done so dis- 
tinctly that there will be never, at any time, any 
difficulty in ascertaining at once to whom the crate 
belongs, and to whom it is going. 
PiCKTNG. — No matter the excellence of the varie- 
ty, no matter what pains may have been taken in 
cultivation to bring the fruit to perfection, the 
price it will bring in the market wiU depend largely 
upon the person who picks it. It is a conunon no- 
tion that anybody, even a child, can pick strawber- 
ries ; while some children may be taught to pick 
well, the operation is one that requires '■ skilled 
labor," and the farther the fruit is to be sent, 
the more care is required. Secure good pick- 
ers, and exercise a constant supervision over them. 
A picking stand is a' frame to hold 6 quarts or 13 
pints, and has a handle to carry it by. A picker 
takes one or two of these; in a very hot day, or 
one with a strong drying wind, the fruit should be 
got under cover as soon as possible, and one is bet- 
ter than two. The picker usually makes two sorts, 
and has a spare basket besides, putting th e largest 
and finest berries into one basket, and those of a 
second size In another ; this, however, depends upon 
circumstances ; if the fruit runs evenly, but one 
quality is made. The spare basket is for the over- 
ripe fruit, which should be removed from the vines 
before it decays, and by no means go with the rest. 
The picker of fine fruit must not hold it in the 
hand until that is fuU, but deposit each berry 
carefully. The stem of the fruit is taken between 
the thumb and fore-finger naUs, and severed ; the 
berry must never be pulled. The fruit in each bas- 
ket must be of even quality from the bottom up, 
and the top well rounded up. All over ripe, mis- 
shapen, or otherwise imperfect berries, must go in 
a basket by tSemselves. The pickers should be 
followed to see that no stalks are broken, and no 
good fruit missed. The condition of ripeness must 
be considered by the grower, and this wiD depend 
upon the length of time the fruit is to be in trans- 
portation, and will vary from being light-colored on 
the under side, up to full color — ^but never, no mat- 
ter how near the market, should the fruit be sofl. 
Over- ripeness often causes much loss, the fruit falls 
dovm, and appears in bad order when opened. Re- 
collect that a single over-ripe berry spoils the 
looks of the basket in which it is put, and the ap- 
pearance of that basket hurts the sale of the crate. 
At the Packing Shed. — Have a shelter of some 
kind near at hand. As soon as the stand is tnled, 
let it be taken there at once, out of the sun and 
wind. If assorted in picking, finish off by turning 
the hulls down, but never top off mth the largest 
fruit. If not properly picked, each basket must be 
emptied, assorted, and reflUed. Do not put the 
baskets into the crates until the fruit has cooled 
all it wUl. The fruit should be taken to the rail- 
road or steamer in a spring wagon, and it wUl be 
well if a careful person can see to loading it upon 
the car or storing it on the boat. 
The Fountain Pump or Sprinkler. 
It is within but a comparatively few years that 
any attempts have been made to supersede the gar- 
den syringe by some form of hand-engine or pump. 
Within the last 30 years the substitutes for the sy- 
ringe have been numerous ; these have had for 
their object the throwing of a continuous stream 
— while the syringe must be alternately filled and 
discharged. If one could get together all the vari- 
ous contrivances for throwing water, some of which 
bear such high sounding names as "Hydropult," 
" Aquajet," etc., it would form a curious collectioa. 
It would be lound that while these avoided the in- 
termittent and slow action of the syringe, the 
weight of the substitutes was many times greater 
and the multiplication of parts, addition of valves 
and air chambers, rendered them liable to get out 
of order, and the popularity of many was short- 
lived. StiU, when invention gets on the track of a 
desired article, no matter how many the failures, 
the needed thing is sure to come at length. We do 
not see how a pump can be contrived that will take 
the place of the syringe any more effectively than 
does that known as the " Fountain Pump," invent- 
ed and made by J. A. Whitman, Providence, R. I. 
To all outside appearance it is a piece of brass tube, 
with a supply hose at one end, and a nozzle at the 
other, or the nozzle may be replaced by a "rose," 
to convert it into a sprinkler. The Interior struc- 
ture is so simple that it is almost impossible to get it 
out of order ; we have one which, after such usage 
as different men and boys are apt to give such an 
implement, is as good as ever. It is quite as light 
as the ordinary syringe, and for all greenhouse pur- 
poses will answer as a complete substitute, with 
the great advantage of giving a continuous stream. 
Its use is not confined to the greenhouse, but for 
out-door work is very effective ; for applying any 
insect-killing liquids to plants of various kinds, we 
have found it especially handy. Aside from Its 
value as a horticultural implement, the manufac- 
turer states that there is a large demand for it for 
various domestic uses, as suggested in the engrav- 
ing on page 180. Wherever a stream of water is to 
be applied with considerable force, as in cleaning 
side-walks and steps ; washing carriages and win- 
dows, and all such uses it is convenient and effec- 
tive. Another use should not be overlooked. A 
small stream, at the right spot, and at once, may 
prevent a destructive conflagration, and itis claimed 
for the " Fountain Pump " that experience has 
shown it to be a most valuable fire-extinguisher. 
Talks on Farm Crops.— No, 3. 
By the Author of " Wallcs and Talks on the Farm,' 
^^ Harris on iJi£ ng,"" etc. 
" Are you going to use superphosphate on your 
com this year?" asked the Deacon. 
" No. If I use artificial manure at all — and I have 
used them more largely than any other farmer in 
town — it will be on crops which command a rela- 
tively higher price than com." 
" What crops may those happen to be ?" said the 
Deacon, in rather a sarcastic tone. " I think a 
good crop of corn and stalks pays about as well, 
taking one year with another, as any crop we grow." 
' ' I think this is tme, but that is not what I allud- 
ed to. There are many other crops, in proportion 
to the amount of nitrogen and phosphoric acid 
which they contain, command a much higher price. 
For instance, a bushel of wheat contains but little 
more phosphoric acid than a bushel of com ; but 
it usually sells for fully double the money. And 
so of barley. A pound of good barley is usually 
worth much more than a pound of corn. If we 
raise crops, therefore, with purchased phosphates, 
their application to wheat and barley ought to pay 
better than when applied to com. Still more 
is this true in regard to potatoes. A bushel of com 
contains nearly three times as much phosphoric 
acid and five times as much nitrogen as a bushel of 
potatoes, while potatoes are usually worth almost 
as much as com, and sometimes a good deal more." 
I am aware that this is only one aspect of the 
case ; and that the principle is not of general ap- 
plication. We greatly need a series of accurate ex 
periments with chemical manures on Indian com, 
as compared with wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, etc. 
Until we have such, we must work on in the dark, 
guided merely by common experience and observa- 
tion. Indian com is as much a puzzle to me as the 
effect of plaster as a manure. It is difficult to find 
any theory that will embrace all'the facts. 
Many years ago, when a bov in England, I was 
drilling in turnips. A shower of rain stopped me 
and the remainder of the field was not sown until 
the nest day. The crop on the one part was far 
