liberated and ferments a-ivino; rise to decay develop. The life of an 

 apple, peach or pear depends very much on the care used in ])icking 

 it. When fruit is shaken from the tree or thrown carelessly into a 

 hard-bottomed or rough-sided basket, chimped into a wagon box, or 

 transported in sacks like potatoes, as they were in former days, the 

 keeping season is shortened and the percentage of loss on stored 

 fruit is very great. Mature fruit should be handled as carefully as 

 thin-shelled eggs. The picker can soon train himself to handle 

 frnit irentlv if he takes the slio'htest interest in his work. 



Grading at store Jtout>e. Note padded baskets. 



Suitahle 7'ecej)tacles for 2>iGhing the fruit are important. — There 

 are two kinds of picking receptacles in common use among fruit 

 growers. One is a swing-handled basket which allows of the con- 

 tents being gently emptied into the barrel. This is a strong splint 

 basket and should be padded or lined with burlap on the inside to 

 prevent bruising the fruit. The second type of picking receptacle 

 is a grain sack into the mouth of which is Hxed a hoop ; or a stout 

 bent stick may be placed across the mouth, making a triangular 

 opening. A broad leather or canvas web strap is then connected 



430 



