Farm And Garden

One of the editors of The Rural New Yorker, who keeps au observant eye upon the marketrnen of New York city, has recorded what he has seen recentïy in the way of shipping packages handled by tbem, giviug illustrations of the same: Figure 1 shows a round basket which has come into quite general use, especially with southern shippers during the past few years, and which is certainly a model. The same style comes in two sizes, what is kuown as the half barrel basket and the third barrel basket, the capacity being indicated by these words, though some of the baskets look as though they had shrunk. The basket is very strongly bnilt and is covered by a slatted cover well fastsned on. It is nsed by the southern shippers for string beans, peas, new potatoes, onions, sqnashes, as well as for apples and some other fruits and vegetables. It presents an extremely neat appearance, is very oonvenient for handling and is well ventilated. lts use might well be extended, especially by northern growers, for fruits and vegetables. I have just seen some of this same style of baskets, the bottoms of which are square with the corners rounded off, thus making the baskets nearly square instead of round. The only advantage I can see for these is that they might be packed together more closely in car or boat, thus saving space. These baskets vary considerably in size, height and capacity, but are alike in general style. Fig. 2 shows one of the most popular packages in market for the shipment of fruits and vegetables. It is simply a light, open case made of thin stuff, but tolerably strong, and holding six small baskets a little larger than the common five pound grape baskets. Occasionally some are seen holding eight tills or baskets and sometimes one holding f our, i)ut the popular size holds six in two tiers. The one showu is filled with to matoes, the end baskets showing them as they come wrapped in papers, the one in the center having the papers removed to show the fruit. A larger part of the scrathern tomatoes come in these carriers, as well as the peaches, plums and grapes, and they are largely used Eor shipping northern grapes and for many other products. The constrnction affords good ventilation, the baskets serve to carry the contenta in good shape and are of a size that pleases retailers. The cost ought not to be great, either. One sees peaches everywhere. The larger part of them are the Elbertas from Georgia, and a fine appearance they make, too, the baskets being those used in the regular carriers, holding perhaps about six quarts. I saw one small lot in octagonal crates, the orates having a partition like orange boxes, and holding proba bly about three pecks each.