Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-05-04

r+&at commercial strawberry dis
a are Central California, Tennes-
u Maryland. Delaware. Southern
r,usiana, North and South Carolina,
n-sinia and the Ozarks. In 1914, 1905
s-lOads cf strawberries were shipped
-1n Central California Lesser guam
Ies were shipped from the other dis
1c.s, which are named in the order
their Importance. From the Ozarks
,ne as carloads last year.
TIE authors Of the survey, which il
uhlshed in Bulletin 1877 OF the Unit
States department of Agriculture,
sra wberry Supply and Distribution
1914" point out. however. that the
Erth plays a more important part in
be strawberry industry than these
cures might Indicate Great quanti-
PES IF berries are grown in the North
small patches and shipped to market
trolley, express, or in the produc-
RS own wagon. Only a very small
rrion Of northern grown berries are
rncentrated in carload lots, the basis
r the Government survey. In the
Euth, however, on the Pacific Coast.
there berries are shipped long dis
snces, II is economical to arrange to
bye them SENT by carloads.
The bulletin already mentioned con-
s.ns list of all shipping stations in
be United States where carload ship
1ents originate, together with the
umber Of carloads sent out in 1914.
rom this list it appears that there
as grand total Of 14.553.2 carloads
strawberries shipped commercially
! 1914. OF these, 2.312 came from Cal
tornia. the states closest competitor
s.ne Tennessee, with a total of L.
r..
Another chart in the bulletin shows
Ee duration Of the shipping seasons
J the various sections. Strawberries
begin to leave Central Florida as early
is December and the movement con-
! st Of March the first Strawberries
ton Southern Texas and Southern
t&iifornia find their way TO the mar
)ai. About the middle Of March the
louisiana crop begins to move. con-
tnutng about two months, or until the
biddle of May. May is, indeed, the
Eeat month for carload shipments.
y far. the greatest part Of the Ten
essee and Virginia crop is shipped
/ that time. as we'll as much Of the
elaware, Southern Illinois and Mary
kDd supply BY the end Of June
huthern California is almost the
bly, area from which carload ship
Ents are being made. The strawber-
fes then on the market are chiefly
Fcwn in small quantities in areas
Jose to the great consuming sections.
Ii connection with this work the
eanrtHaen, of Agriculture is conduct
i telegraph market news service
y daily movement Of strawberries
The various large markets during
seurrent season, together with the
ices received. Reports Of these move
snts and prices are telegraphed daily
producing areas and consuming CEN
Es in order TO assist in the profitable
stribution Of the crop.
Harvesting and Packing.
The following summary taken from
new farmers bulletin. No ga. OF the
nited States Department Of Agri
Hture. strawberry Growing in the
nth shows the importance Of care
grading and packing if the grower
Dects to obtain quality" prices:
Picking the Fruit
~ stage Of maturity at which ber
nhould be picked depends upon the
Ance they are to be shipped. When
M for a local market they should
picked when thoroughly ripe but
soft. If grown for a distant mar
the berries must be picked before
D are thoroughly ripe, but they
1be fully grown and about three
ripe. If picked before they are
the berries will shrink and
making them unfit for sale.
eDerTies. should be picked with
mort piece OF stem attached (about
kyourth to one-half inch). They
hquld never be slipped from the stem.
that spoils their appearance and
Fures their shipping and keeping
pIlties.
Packing.
Uniformity in the pack is essential
order TO obtain high prices for
1awberries, and this can be secured
aly when the berries have been care
ais graded and sorted. ,v.ne g ow-
p have the berries graded in the
common practice in some sections
70 pick the ripe berries of all -,raies
10 the same box and when the tray
sui 10 take it to the packing shed,
'asre the berries are sorted and
ssxed The graders dump the berries
"a table and pick out all green, over
" or small berries. The others are
F%ced in the boxes, one of the graders
.SAslng the top layers in such way
"a the berries show to best ad-
IMAGE. When berries are packed in
= manper care should be taken not
put the small, inferior berries in the
T@ef Of the box and the large fine
ss.ies on top. The fruit should be
~4eFm throughout the box, with the
y aver merely placed to add to tie
-scoveness of the pack and to mold
nut IN place. Where fancy pacx
W up. the berries should be d.
Snio two grades.
the berries are picked they
SSa be placed in the shade as soon
p@sible, for heat Injuries the fruit
\. snort time. The pickers should
4 ~ De allowed to leave the filled
S along the rows, where the Der
NC Will he n~nacoS <t4 e,,~