PICKING. 113 



quality of peaches you have. But the same end may be 

 attained by a proper discrimination in the manifest. 



FACING. 



Facing is an art. It consists in rounding up handsome- 

 ly the top of the basket. For this purpose, a few of the 

 largest, and highest colored peaches are laid aside in fill- 

 ing it, and carefully placed on the top, to give a fine ap- 

 pearance. It is the planter's art of displaying his goods. 

 It is sometimes abused by the knavish, who put very in- 

 ferior fruit in the bottom, and sometimes even of other 

 varieties, and then "top off" with the very finest, in order 

 to deceive the purchaser. But this is never done by the 

 honest planter, but usually by middle men, who engage 

 in shipping only for a season, and who have no sense of 

 right and wrong, and no character to lose. The former 

 simply does it to make a favorable impression, and al- 

 ways, tacitly at least, warrants his fruit to be substan- 

 tially the same throughout. 



During the picking season, the trees, as a rule, should 

 be picked once a day at least ; some planters pick their 

 orchards even twice a day, so rapidly does the fruit ma- 

 ture in favorable weather, and sometimes every other day 

 may suffice. 



WAGONS. 



The peach business has originated a Peach Wagon. 

 This is used by large growers, and especially where the 

 fruit has to be carried several miles to a shipping point. 

 The genuine, full-sized peach wagon, will carry one hun- 

 dred and fifty-six baskets, and is drawn by four draught 

 horses. It is in all respects a substantial carriage. The 

 wheels are heavy with a broad tread. The springs are 

 strong, but very elastic. It is provided with a strong, 

 light, flaring, frame bed, arranged with tiers of shelves or 

 racks for the baskets. Baskets shoulcl never be allowed 



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