Excerpt from The Illustrated Dictionary of Gardening, Vol. 3: A Practical and Scientific Encyclopedia of Horticulture for Gardeners and Botanists; P to S

Fruits. Besides despatching supplies of fruit, to meet family requirements, large quantities have also to be sent from various places to market, and the condition in which such consignments arrive greatly affects their value. To the system of Packing much relating to suc cess or failure may generally be attributed, although the condition of many fruits, at the time they are packed, must not be overlooked. Such soft-skinned subjects as Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Strawberries, &c., require most careful handling, and will not travel satis factorily in an over-ripe state. It becomes necessary, therefore, to gather them for Packing before they are fully ripe. This, unfortunately, detracts from their quality very considerably, but it is unavoidable where the results of a railway journey are to be taken into consideration. With Grapes, it is important that their bloom should be, as much as possible, preserved. With this end in view, the bunches are frequently packed close together, in moderately deep boxes or baskets, with an inside lining, on the bottom and around the sides, of soft, dry moss, covered with tissue paper. If provision can be made for keeping the box or basket upright throughout its journey, there is no need of putting any thing beneath the lid. If this cannot be insured, similar paper, and a layer of moss, should be used, as on the the sides, for filling the vacant space; but this is almost certain to destroy more or less bloom. The bunches should be close enough together in the space to prevent rubbing or shifting about. Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs, must not be over-ripe, or their skins are sure to get bruised in transit. These fruits should be packed in boxes only deep enough to take one layer. Each fruit should be carefully wrapped in tissue paper, and sometimes it becomes necessary to have a thin band of cotton wool in addition. Figs are best packed in Vine leaves, without paper or cotton wool. Boxes about arm. Or 4in. Deep are most suitable, as these afl'ord space for a layer of dry mess in the bottom, which acts as a bed; and if the fruits do not fill up, a sheet of tissue paper, and a little more moss or cotton wool above it, should be placed beneath the lid. Strawberries are best packed in boxes holding only single layers; 2in. Deep is sufficient. A quantity of soft leaves should be gathered with the fruits, or from spare plants, and allowed to wither a little. In proceeding to pack, a leaf should be put round each fruit, which should then be placed in the box, one after the other, until the space is filled. Sufficient leaves are then laid over the top to fill up to the lid. All leaves used must be dry on the surface, otherwise they will injure the fruit. Apricots and Plums may be packed like Peaches, but they are not so delicate, and suffer less readily. Cherries travel well when not too ripe, by being simply laid close together, in very shallow boxes. When it is necessary to preserve the bloom on Plums, they may be similarly treated.

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