The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-22
PLANTER AND FARMER.
USEFUL NOTES OF INTEREST TO
AGRICULTURISTS.
Some Interesting and seasonable Information
a. to the Best Method OF Packing and Ship
ping strawberries-A Very Grave Mistake
Often Made by Farmers in Planting.

The editor of the Florida Farmer and Fruit
Grower, who is himself an extensive straw
berry raiser and shipper. says unfortunately
the impression has got abroad among many
growers that the berries should be plated"
or faced" for the Northern market, which
means packing all the bad fruit in the bottom
of the basket and covering the top with the
he continues. TO put a handful of nice berries
on top Of the basket loosely laid on. but 1t IS
a great mistake to handle the berries so
much as is required 10 place each one
separately even wedgng them together %
make a smooth surface; When the weather IS
so cool that they can travel all the way to the
North without any perceptible injury. this
practice may be tolerated but IN all ordinary
weather, such as we have IN March and April
any berry that has been jammed into its place
will be so injured in appearance OF not aoso-
lutely ruined) when it arrives that the basket
will have TO be re-faced II sold at all Then.
if all the incest berries have already been used
for this purpose and have 20 be either thrown
away or put into the bottom of the cup, the
berries cannot be made presentabe.
More than that. all sensible buyers are sus-
picious Of a cup Of berries Sd elaborately
plated: and when they turn 1t out and find
put on top. they are very apt not 10 invest.
No berry should be tightly damned into
places. Let them all be poured lightly into
the cup: hold it up with one hand and tap 1t a
few times with the other 10 settle them, 80
that the cup shall not have a shrunken,
skinny look when IL reaches the market
For the same reason do not allow the pickers
10 hold berries in the hand until they get
warm and IN all probability. skin-brOken on
one side or more. Require them to put the
berries into the cup every hill they gather
If shipping by express, 1t VIII pay the
grower 10 get all bis plckers into the heid as
soon as there Is enough daylight 10 enable
them 10 see the berries. When they are wet
with dew. they are cool and solid they VIII RAJ
tie and not break either when pOuredd down on
the table Spread them out thin IN tue shade
aud let the breeze draw over them until they
are dry. or very nearly. Crate them and let
the crates stand with the lids open some
where IN breezy place until tram time. Der
rieS picked in the cool of the morning. wnen
they are only about wo-thiTds col0red. are IN
the best possible condition for shipping with
out ice After the sun has shone on the plants
for two or three hours the herries expand and
become soft the least pressure VIII rupture
the skins and make mess on the sorting
table. II picking has % continue through the
heat Of the day. these berries sh' uld be placed
in the refrigerator car rs soon a. Grated.
Select your commission house, says the
writer. with the utmost care, then ship 10 that
house through thick and thin. DO not get
angry because you do not hear from your
merchant every twenty-four hours. The best
and sOlldest houses generally take their time.
renting probably once a week. II your ber
ries are good they will make n name. they
will be spoken for IN advance and will com
mand the highest market price. But II you
allow yourself 10 be wheedlcd away 10 this
house or that by every smooth and oily tongue
that wag~. shipping 10 strange house You
lose the benefits If your good reputation.
The wiiter says be has often thought
that telegIaphic reports from mar
kct a thousand miles distant are an
inlury rather than benefit 10 tine
grower The market for strawberries Is very
mercurial-up today. down tomorrow.
telegram may come reporting great scarcity
ami high prices in a certain city. but long be-
fore berries can get there the very opposite
condition may prevail. He has at times
shippcd for solid weeks 10 the same house, in
different 70 the kilograms and to the nervous
growers. who continually consulted them and
shipped 10 half dozen places. perhaps IN a.
many DAYS and ut the end Of that time had
a much better bank account than the men
who were 80 anxious 20 catch the top Of the
market IN several cities lie does not say this
10 boast. but because he wishes 10 brace up
the grower and teach him good business hab-
its ~ well ~ the proper cultivation OF the
nlalfs