122 HORTICULTURAL MANUAL. 



cases be excluded from the orchard. The low hedge is 

 more attractive than the fence, and near towns is not so 

 easy to climb. Another good reason for its use is that a 

 low wind-break lessens evaporation by breaking the con- 

 tinuity of wind-sweep at the surface of the earth. A 

 hedge eight feet in height of the Amur barberry at the 

 north, or Osage or Cherokee rose at the south, does not 

 affect the needed circulation of air, yet it will materially 

 lessen surface wind-sweep and thus lessen evaporation. 

 In different parts of Europe the low shelter-belts are 

 used by seed- growers, nurserymen, and fruit-growers. An 

 example of their value is shown in Manitoba, where many 

 miles of shrubby Artemesia and other hedges have been 

 planted to protect wheat-fields. Where the surface soil 

 and even the seed wheat was blown away prior to their use 

 little trouble is experienced at this time. 



134. Marketing Summer-ripening Fruit. Properly 

 managed, there is profit in most localities in growing 

 summer-ripening apples and pears. In picking the stems 

 should be retained, as it favors their keeping, and they 

 should be marketed in crates holding not more than half 

 a bushel. They should also be picked when so nearly ripe 

 that they will ripen fully in transit. In this form the 

 summer fruits give less loss to the dealer and increase 

 consumption, as most buyers will not ask for a division of 

 a crate. In the prairie States the only neatly packed 

 summer and early fall fruits seen in the markets are 

 packed in Colorado, Utah, and other distant States, while 

 home-grown apples and pears are marketed in bulk at 

 local points or go to waste. In marketing strawberries, 

 cherries, plums, peaches, tomatoes, and currants the same 

 care is needed in retaining the stems and also in picking 

 when ripe and packing as neatly in crates, as is done in a 

 few fruit centres, notably in California. Professor Bailey 



