FRUIT GROWING ON THE FARM 277 



be interested only in the operations of picking and storing 

 the fruits on the farm. 



Picking fruit. It is too often the practice on the farm 

 to pick the apples from the ground after tney have been 

 knocked or shaken from the tree. No wonder the fruit gath- 

 ered and stored by such methods fails to keep for any length 

 of time. Where the fruit is bruised or the skin broken, the 

 spores of the rot are sure to enter and cause the fruit to 

 decay. All fruit to be stored or marketed should be hand- 

 picked and carefully handled to prevent bruises and the 

 consequent early decay. In the case of apples, it is gener- 

 ally best to pick them just as they have reached their full size 

 and when they have attained their full color. The best time 

 to pick a pear is just as soon as it reaches its full size and 

 before it has begun to color. The pear may be taken in one 

 hand and turned up, and if the stem snaps off from the 

 spur the fruit is ripe enough to pick. A peach is ripe enough 

 to pick when it is full grown and has reached its characteristic 

 color. In the case of cherries and plums, the fruit should 

 be picked just before it has reached the best edible condition. 



How to pick the tree fruits. In picking the tree fruits 

 it is best to use a basket fastened to the body of the picker 

 in some way so that he may have the free use of both hands. 

 The basket may be hung upon the ladder or the limbs by a 

 *vire hook, if the fruit does not have to be dropped too far 

 to rgach it. If the baskets are lined on the inside with thick 

 cloth or burlap, they will be better for the purpose and 

 save many bruises to the fruit. In picking apples it is nearly 

 always essential to have long and light ladders with peaked 



