WINTER MEETING. 199 



Next if the trees are large we should prepare one good self-sup- 

 porting ladder for every two men that we expect to employ in gather- 

 ing. These ladders can be made cheaply by any carpenter of any 

 strong, light material; pine or linn answers a good purpose. The 

 material had best be ordered direct from the mill, that it may be cut 

 the proper size, which should be one and one-half by three and one-half 

 inches at lower end, and one and one-half by two inches at top, and 

 ten to twelve feet long. Three pieces for standards or uprights are 

 necessary for each ladder. The steps may be made of one by three- 

 inch batting. Now construct the ladder so that the uprights will be 

 three feet apart at the base and taper to two inches apart at the top, 

 with a step every fifteen inches, let one-half the thickness of it into the 

 upright and nail securely. Now place the small end of the third 

 standard between the top of the standards of the ladder and bore a 

 half-inch hole in all three and place a half-inch bolt in them and put a 

 nut on bolt. The third leg or standard will close up so that it may be 

 carried, or stand out at any angle and be self-supporting, so that the 

 picker may go into the tree or may go up by the side of it. 



Next, let us prepare at least four good half-bushel picking baskets 

 for every gatherer that we expect to use. I say good ones, for if they 

 are not good they will last bat a short time. Taking them as they 

 come from the factory, they should be gone over and thoroughly re- 

 nailed to prevent them pulling apart when filled. Now, take paint pot 

 and brush and number each basket, four No. ones, four No. twos, four 

 No. threes and so on, four baskets bearing the same number for each 

 picker. Bach basket should be padded with excelsior and lined with 

 good burlap, or cotton drilling or denims. 



Now the gatherers are ready to go to the orchard, but we have 

 made no provision for the packers. A packing-table is necessary and 

 is easily made by cutting 2x4 scantling 3 feet long for legs and putting 

 on them three 1x12, 16-foot boards, surfaced on one side, making a 

 table 3x16 feet. There should be a 1x4, 16-foot strip nailed lengthwise 

 on edge through the enter of the table to elevate the inner end of the 

 box while being packed. Then there should be shade provided for the 

 packers, for we are going to pack the peaches in the orchard where 

 they grow. This is readily made by procuring tent or sail cloth 16x24 

 feet, with holes well worked into each corner, middle of ends and 

 sides, one stiff ridge-pole reaching the entire length of the sheet; 

 three pike-poles 12 feet long to support the ridge-pole and three pike- 

 poles 8 feet for each eave or side. Enough small rope may be put 

 into the loop holes of the canvass to secure it in position. Now spread 

 the canvass out and place the ridge-pole exactly in the center lengthwise 



