The Bulletin. 



Ill 



localities. This lattor method invariably rosulls in hniisiii;^ and siiaji^iiii;^ the 

 fruit, thereby daniajjins its kei'piiij; qualities and destroyiufjc its {general at- 

 tractiveness. Fruit iJirowers seldom I'cali/e how much the normal kccpinf^ 

 season of fruit is shortened by bruises due to careless. indifferiMit handling. 

 When the flesh of a fruit is bruised the cells are crushetl, the juices are liber- 

 ated, fermentation develops, aud decay results. The life of an apple, i)each, 

 or pear <lepeiids very much ou the care used in picking it. When fruit is 

 shaken from the tree, thrown into a hard-bottomed or rough-sided basket, 

 dumped into a wagon box or carelessly poured into a barrel, the keeping 

 season is materially shorlentHl. 



As the fruit is picked from the tree, it should be carefully j)laced in either 

 a basket or sack, arranged to suit the convenience of the picker. These re- 

 ceptacles usually hold from a peck to half a bushel, depending upon the kind 

 of fruit gatherwi. The handle basket shown in Fig. 1 is used in many locali- 

 ties for this purpose. The inside is often padded to lessen the liability of 

 bruising. A piece of iron rod bent in the shape of the letter S makes a good 

 hook with which to susi)end the basket from either a limb or the rung of a 

 ladder while picking. The fruit is picked either from the ground or from 

 stepladders, or other light ladder that can be carefully laid against the limbs 

 or branches of the trees. Ladders should not be thrown upon or against the 

 limbs, as this damages both the fruit and the ti'ees. 



Poorly Graded I-'i: 



XInnr 



Probably the most important operation in preparing fruit for market is 

 ihe grading. This work can best be started in the orchard with the growing 

 of the crop. Careful cultivation means fewer culls and less expense for sort- 

 ing and grading. Uniformity is the chief requirement to be considered in this 

 operation. One of the greatest defects iu the system of marketing ou the 

 part of a great many growers is the lack of proper grading and packing. Too 

 often soundness is the only thing considered and no attention whatever is 

 paid to the difference in varieties, size, degree of ripeness, color and general 

 appearance of the fruit. Growers should attempt to handle aud market their 

 croiis so that they will be uniform iu quality, condition, and general appear- 

 ance. Fruit of all kinds should be sorted so that in each package each speci- 

 men is as nearly like the others as is practicable. The etlicieut grader has iu 

 mind the appearance of the whole package, and not the individual specimens. 

 This work can seldom be overdone, for the more rigid the grading the greater 

 the profits at the time of sale. Fig. 2 shows two lots of apples as taken from 

 two different consignments. The barrel from which the well-graded fruit was 

 taken sold a little in advance of the market price on account of the pack 

 being uniform throughout. The other barrel, containing apples of all sizes 

 and degrees of color and condition, sold at a price considerably lower than 

 the market on account of the grower's disregard for uniformity. 



