WHEN TO PICK 



331 



left on the vines this long if they are to be shipped some distance, 

 but for local or home use they should be ripened on the bushes. 

 Peaches that are to be shipped may be picked when full grown, 

 if the characteristic color of ripeness has begun to develop. Little 

 color is added after picking time. Japanese plums, on the other 

 hand, will gain considerable color after picking, and for that reason 

 can be shipped farther than they otherwise could. Pinching the 

 fruit to detect ripeness is a bad practice. A gentle pressure with 

 the soft part of the thumb on the surface of the peach will aid in 

 detecting its maturity. The fruit will give slightly under such 



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Fro. 222. At harvest time the peaches are often sorted and packed in the orchard, 

 with or without a shed for protection from sun and rain. Note the style of picking baskets, 

 shown in the foreground. (New Jersey Station.) 



pressure if it is ready to pick for a distant market All stone fruits 

 are subject to attack by fruit rot fungus if they are too ripe at the 

 time of picking. This disease often attacks plums and cherries 

 as well as peaches if the fruit is ripe enough to eat at the time of 

 shipment. This makes it necessary to pick the fruit somewhat 

 earlier and start it on its way so that it will reach the consumer in 

 sound condition. Solid baskets with handles as shown in figure 

 222, are good for picking fruit. 



Winter apples are usually not allowed to color up very much 

 on the tree before they are picked and stored for sale during the 



