I8l 



APPLE PACKING 



It is plain to see we are on the eve of a great fruit 

 packing revolution, here in the east. Competition from the 

 west has come in, stirring up the fruit growers. The great 

 trouble with the fruit at the present time is the packing. 

 But if only good fruit was- packed, there would not be 

 enough to meet the demand. The first and most important 

 requisite of a good commercial apple pack, is good apples. 

 We must have better apples. We must have apples adapted 

 to the conditions of the New England climate. Because 

 an apple does well in the west or south, it is no sign that 

 it will do well here. AVe must grow a better quality of ap- 

 ples — apples that will create a demand. If you put in 

 practice the hints given you by the speakers here today, 

 you will do more than anything else to bring this about. 

 We must get better color, that is the most difficult thing 

 with which we have to compete. We must grow apples 

 of high eating and cooking quality even if the apples of 

 poorer quality yield more profit for the time being. The 

 success of a few men is a sufficient indication of what can 

 be done if we use the right method. 



A few words with reference to the picking and pack- 

 ing of the fruit. As a general rule, red varieties should be 

 picked when the color is right ; green ones when the seeds 

 are ripe. The fruit should be left on the tree until it is fully 

 matured, then picked and got into the packages as soon as 

 possible. I don't need to say, 'Never shake the tree;' all 

 the apples should be picked by hand and it takes consider- 

 able skill to remove them without breaking the stems. 



The baskets in which the fruit is handled should be 

 padded. I think a half bushel basket is the best thing that 

 can be used. The half bushel basket is well adapted for 

 barrel packing. Keep the trees near the ground; a light 

 ladder is the best kind of a ladder to use. Some use big 

 bags for picking. I don't think these can be recommended. 

 There is more chance of bruising the apples and jamming 

 them. 



It is a good idea to have the pickers in three groups. 

 The first picking from the ground, the next a little higher 

 up, and the third from the very top of the trees. It is not 

 a wise plan to climb the trees. 



If the apples are packed in boxes, a shed is necessary; 



