m 



and they cannot be successfully grown unless thimiing is 

 practiced 



Therfi may be times when some of these apples that are 

 thinned can be sold to advantage and bring enough to pay 

 for the thinning. T have practiced the thinning of apples 

 for several years in my own orchards, and I repeat I know 

 of no bettej investment I could make of the money actually 

 spent for this purpose. 



When the crop is once grown wc have another problem 

 of vital importance: the harvesting and marketing end of 

 it. 



Every fruit grower must realize the importance of 

 "handling his fruit carefully if he expects to dispose of it at 

 the best advantage. The time of picking will vary and 

 every person owing an apple orchard must determine this 

 point for himself. 



Very often certain varieties of apples will command much 

 higher prices in our large markets early in tlie season when 

 Ihey are green than they will if we let them ripen. I 

 believe in watching the market and disposing of them when- 

 -ever they will command the highest possible price regardless 

 ■of the ripened condition. Most varieties sliould be 

 picked over at least twice in order to get them nicely 

 colored and at their best. Thi« is especially true of the red 

 "varieties. 



There is no time when an apple improves so rapidly as 

 the last few days it is allowed to remain on the tree. Some 

 care should be exercised and the pickers cautioned about 

 breaking off the fruit buds which, if allowed to any consid- 

 erable extent, might reduce the next year's crop. We find 

 the handle basket holding about a half bushel the most de- 

 sirable and satisfactory kind to pick in. We sometimes line 

 them witli burlap when picking very tender varieties. 



Every fruit grower must again realize the necessity of 

 growing a fancy grade of apples before he can pack and 

 market tliem in any considerable quantity. New Jersey 

 T am very glad to say, is growing some beautiful fruit, but 



