MARKETING THE CROP 



161 



fruit which has to be handled in the open market 

 can never be allowed to become thoroughly soft 

 and ripe. The man who meets the market 

 must have a pretty definite idea of how many 

 days must elapse between picking and consumption 

 of the fruit, and allowance must be made for this at 

 picking time. The picker tells whether a peach is 

 ready to pick or not by feeling it with his hands, or 

 by observing the color of the fruit. 



HAULING TO THE PACKING SHED 



When a considerable amount of fruit has to be 

 handled, the organization of the picking gang be- 

 comes a serious problem. The men have to be 

 found hurriedly, and there is not sufficient time to 

 train them as they ought to be trained for their diffi- 

 cult task. In the South, where negro labor is 

 abundant, it is widely employed and is generally 

 found to be satisfactory. In districts where Italian 



