110 



The Bulletin. 



The preparation of fruits for marlcet really begins witli their production. 

 A suitable location should be secured, the land properly prepared, varieties 

 carefully selected, good healthy trees planted, and a careful system of cultiva- 

 tion followed. A great deal depends upon this cultivation, for it includes not 

 only the tillage of the soil, but the training of the young trees and their 

 protection from the attacks of numerous insect and fungous enemies. 



Twenty shears ago there was little need to fight orchard pests, as the injury 

 caused by them was scarcely, appreciable. At the present time, particularly 

 in the older sections of the country, it has become necessary to combat these 

 pests in order to grow marlietable crops. This marked change, coming in so 

 short a time, and in many instances causing serious loss, has naturally been 

 discouraging, and as a result many growers have been slow in adapting them- 

 seh-es to these new conditions. Although the combating of insect and fungous 

 enemies has without doubt slightly increased the cost of production, those 

 growers who have persistently used proper methods for their control have 

 been uniformly successful in growing profitable crops of high-grade fruit. 

 An examination of any market will show that the well developed, firmly 

 colored, clean and attractive products of the orchard bring the highest prices. 

 Care and attention on the part of the grower and the demands of the con- 

 sumer are responsible for this condition. Careless, indifferent cultivation and 

 the uncheclved ravages of different insects and fungi are principally the cause 

 of undersized, poorly colored, diseased and unattractive specimens of orchard 

 crops. Fruit of this kind is usually a glut in the market, for buyers do not 

 want it at any price. 



Fruit Picking Basket. 



Another point often given too little consideration by growers is the method 

 of harvesting the fruit. The state of maturity at which fruit can best be 

 picked depends upon the varieties and the purposes for which they are in- 

 tended. Summer varieties, for home use or for the local market, need not 

 be gathered until fully ripe. Fall and winter fruit intended for the same 

 use may be allowed to fully ripen, but should be picked before the mellowiiig 

 process begins. Summer, fall, and winter varieties, for long-distance ship- 

 ment or for storage, should be gathered as soon as fully grown and colored. 



In gathering fruit, either for market, storage, or home purposes, it is neces- 

 sary to remove the fruit from the trees with a groat amount of care. This 

 work should always be done by hand, and not in the careless, wholesale way 

 of shaking or knocking the fruit off as is the common practice in certain 



