98 



APPLE GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



into the box without danger of bruising, provided that the picking- 

 vessel is not held too high when opened. There are a number of good 

 picking bags made somewhat like the one shown in the picture, any 

 of which will give good service, providing that they are used by careful 

 pickers. Common buckets of small size are sometimes used and are 

 quite satisfactory, but are not so conveniently emptied as vessels with 

 the collapsible bottoms. 



GRADING. 



The grading of apples is usually done in the packing-houses. Fig. 52 

 shows boxes of apples in house awaiting this work, which is sometimes 



Fig. 52. Boxes of fruit in the packing-house ready for grading. 



C. B. Weeks) 



(Photo by 



done by means of mechanical graders, of which there are a number of 

 different types on the market. Some of these are said to be very satis- 

 factory, while others are apt to bruise the fruit more or less, thus bring- 

 ing about decay prematurely. Ordinarily such work is done by hand. 

 The beginner is given a board in which holes of different sizes, repre- 

 senting the diameters of the apples that are used in the different styles of 

 pack, are made. These are used simply to train the eye to the various 

 sizes, and are not necessary after one has been doing the work for a 

 short time. All cull apples are removed during the process of grading ; 

 that is, such as are stemless, contain worms, worm holes, bruises, limb 

 scars, etc. When mechanical graders are used, all blemished fruit must 

 be picked out by hand, either before or after it has been put through 

 the grader. 



