APPLE GROWING IX CALIFORNIA. 



97 



CHAPTER XVI. 



PICKING, GRADING AND PACKING. 



PICKING. 



The knowledge that has been acquired in regard to the various organ- 

 isms which produce decay in fruits, and that many gain entrance only 

 where the skin is broken by bruising or where a worm has entered. has 

 resulted in much greater care being taken, when picking apples, than 

 formerly. How well c;m we all remember the time when the apples high 

 up in the trees were shaken to the ground or knocked down with a pole 

 regardless of the injury done to them in falling. It is now known that 

 only the sound apples will keep well when packed, and even slight 

 bruises will act as starting points for decay and the ruination of the 

 fruit. As a consequence, picking is done with the greatest care by the 



Fig. 51. A good type of picking bucket. (Original) 



better orchardists and the handling of the fruit is done as carefully as 

 though one were handling er<rs. As far as possible all stems should 

 remain intact after fruit is picked. 



When pulled from the tre.-s the apples should be carefully placed 

 in the picking bar. Can-less dropping of the fruit into the bags may 

 result in many bruises, and arain when emptying from the bag into a 

 l>ox. eare should be exercised so that they an- not allowed to drop too far. 

 The type of picking bucket shown in Fig. 51 has a canvas bottom which 

 opens when bein<r unhooked at the side, and the apples are emptied 



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