HARVESTING AND STORING 



to twenty cents a running foot. Step ladders 

 are useful only on young and small trees. The 

 two styles, the three (Japanese) and four 

 legged, are both quite satisfactory where one 

 can reach the fruit from them. 



Receptacles for picking usually hold about 

 half a bushel. Both baskets and bags are used, 

 some preferring one and some the other, and 

 a choice between them is merely a matter of 

 personal preference. There is a little less li- 

 ability of bruising the apples in bags than In 

 baskets, but the latter are more convenient In 

 some ways. Fruit should never be thrown or 

 dropped into a basket but always handled care- 

 fully. Some varieties, as Mcintosh, show al- 

 most every finger mark and literally require 

 handling with gloves. 



Handling. — The old custom of picking and 

 laying on the ground In the orchard is a poor 

 one and should not be followed, as it causes 

 unnecessary handling and bruising. Moreover, 

 fruit should be packed and hauled to storage 

 as soon after picking as possible. Picking and 

 placing directly on the packing table from 

 which the apples are Immediately packed Is 

 the best plan where It Is practicable, but as 

 the weather at picking time In the Eastern 

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