Appendix. 21^ 



boxes set on the ground. Keep them clean. A better way is to use only 

 the regular orchard picking boxes. 



I use a little skeleton table twenty-eight inches high, with the top 

 just the size of an apple or orchard box. Upon this table I set the bax 

 while picking from the lower limbs. With low-topped trees, at least 

 one-third or one-half of the fruit can be picked while standing on the 

 ground, and be placed in the box on this table. They are lig'^t, easy 

 made, and very convenient. It saves your back from stooping over to 

 place the apples in the boxes, and it saves the re-handling of your fruit 

 from the picking basket, bucket, or bag. I find that a galvanized iran 

 bucket, made to order, ten inches wide and ten inches deep, v.ih 

 straight sides and a hook attached to the handle, is very convenient for 

 picking apples. I have experimented with sevei'al different styles of 

 patent step ladders, but nine times out of ten the picker will take the 

 ladder that sets the most solid upon the ground. This is generally a 

 common, home-made step ladder, with three or four legs, made so as 

 not to fold together. These ladders are practical only when not over 

 seven or eight feet high, and when used in working around the outer 

 part of trees. 



For thinning and picking the top and inner part of trees, I find noth- 

 ing so convenient as two tripod ladders set on opposite sides of the 

 tree, with a light and strong plank laid through the tree, with ends 

 resting upon the top or the round on inner ladder of each tripod ladder. 

 I have with me a photograph of these ladders in service, which I wilt 

 take pleasure in showing to you after this meeting is over. You will 

 notice that this is another point scored in favor of an open-topped tree.. 

 These ladders could not be connected very conveniently with this plank 

 if the tree contained large center limbs; and besides, you could not get 

 into the tree to work with any convenience. 



In thinning and picking off of these ladders in my orchards, three 

 persons can and do work with perfect ease and safety. When you pick 

 your apples, do not throw any culls on the ground in order that you may 

 have the opportunity to get down on your knees in the dirt and mud a 

 month later to pick them up. When I pick a tree, I leave the ground 

 beneath it, as well as the tree, clean of all fruit, it matters not how 

 badly damaged. After your apples are picked, do not store them away 

 before wiping. After an apple sweats, it will cost twice as much to 

 wipe it. Especially the Esopus Spitzenberg. I have wiped them when 

 they cost me ten cents a box, just because I had let them set awhile 

 after picking. The best contrivance that I have found for wiping apples 

 is mittens made of Turkish toweling. Lay your hand on the cloth and 

 mark around it leaving one-half inch for seam, cut to mark and then 

 stitch up on sewing machine. It will take about five minutes to make a 

 pair of these mittens. If you will try them, you will always use them. 

 Each wiper should have two or three pair. While wiping your apples, 

 be sure to cull out all wormy, scaly, scabby, bruised, mis-shapen, or 

 otherwise imperfect apples. This is a good time to separate your sec- 



