30 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



apples. By these methods we are preparing for the harvest. When 

 harvest comes we have plenty to do. We have a short season, from two 

 to four weeks, for apples, and a short season for peaches. Now we 

 come to the harvesting of the products after we have properly grown 

 them. I will speak just briefly of the equipment for the harvest. There 

 are the ladders, and for our own use we use 20-foot ladders, which is 

 the longest we are using, and of course the basswood ladders where the 

 sides are spread well at the bottom and with a pointed top. We like 

 the basswood ladders as they are very strong and rigid and light. The 

 length of the ladder will vary according to the age of the trees and 

 the size. We are using for peaches a four to six foot stepladder. They 

 are one of the handiest ladders we have ever used in the orchard. They 

 stand very solid on nearly all kinds and conditions of soil. We do not 

 want a ladder that is in any way dangerous to get upon, or liable to 

 turn and throw a man so he has to hang on with one hand — we want 

 him to pick with both hands. We use baskets. In some places they 

 use sacks, but we don't want a sack taken into the orchard. They do 

 get in sometimes in the evening when we are not there. For our apple 

 picking and pears we use the handled basket, and we are going to 

 have these baskets with handles padded on the inside and I am satis- 

 fled it will pay us for the extra expense. You do not want to compress 

 the fruit or drop it. For our peach harvest we use a Diamond market 

 basket, just as flrm as we can get. The half bushel splint basket, and 

 they are not handled until they are ready for the packers. Be very sure to 

 get a basket that is flrm (you will have to order them made extra) and 

 not fill baskets too full of the fruit, to injure those in the bottom of the 

 basket. One of the important things to be considered in harvesting is 

 supplying the packages. There is plenty of worry and anxiety without 

 wondering where you are going to get your package. Then for the 

 handling of the fruit after it is picked we use wagons with springs in 

 them altogether. In fact, we like to handle our fruit like eggs, as it 

 pays us to take care of it. Then after we have this equipment the 

 question would be asked about the time of harvest. This is a very 

 difficult question to answer, as to the condition the fruit should be in 

 at the time of harvest. It will depend largely, practically altogether, 

 on the market. Under our own conditions, we allow the fruit to be- 

 come quite ripe. We find it has a better quality, a better peach flavor, 

 when it matures on the trees. Too many are situated where the fruit 

 has to be in transit two or three days or a week before it reaches the 

 consumer. With us it may reach the customer or consumer within 

 twelve hours from the time it is picked and can be better matured. 

 It takes experience along this line of picking for good results. In apples 

 we also require the fruit quite mature. In reference to the packing 

 house I might suggest a word. This should be well supplied with tables, 

 I prefer the canvas covered tables, Avhere you pour the peaches or 

 apples out as it doesn't bruise them, with the edges padded. After 

 they are harvested, peaches of course want to go to market at once, the 

 (juicker the better. They want to go where it is cool and be handled 

 and crated at once and started on their way to market. AVith apples 

 it is a little diff'erent. We are handling ours in crates and barrels to 

 get them to the packing house or storage. Our early apples we generally 

 send at once to market. I wish to say right here that in growing early 

 apples we do not do the amount of thinning we do on the later ones. 



