180 ELEMENTAEY-AGEICULTURE 



is safest to clip them with sharp-pointed shears, be- 

 cause pulling is apt to break the branch. A fruit 

 tree that has been properly pruned and the crop 

 thinned, will not need props to keep it from break- 

 ing down; and it is more likely to bear a good crop 

 every year. 



Harvesting Fruit. A farmer who grows fruit for 

 market must pick it carefully to prevent bruising. 

 In order to make the fruit attractive to the buyer, 

 the grower grades his apples, that is, he sorts out 

 those of the same * size and packs them together. 

 Boxes are being used for packing, though many 

 still prefer barrels for apples. Neat and .careful 

 packing helps to secure good prices for the fruit 

 crop. 



Peaches. Though many peaches are raised in 

 California, the greater part of them come from the 

 Eastern states. A mildly temperate climate favors 

 this fruit. They must be packed quickly and closely 

 and sent by fast freight when shipped. Packers get 

 two cents a basket, and an expert packer can fill a 

 hundred baskets in a day. 



Apples. Of all the many fruits grown in our 

 country, the apple is the most important. More 

 than forty million barrels are used every year, or 

 about a half barrel for every man, woman, and child 

 in the United States. There are fewer difficulties 

 to meet in raising apples than any other fruit. The 

 tree is hardy and is not easily injured. There are 

 many varieties of apples that keep well through 



