PICKING THE FRUIT . 103 



and thoroughly stirred together a half hour louger. Add 

 enough water to make sixty gallons. 



(7) Winter Protection. 



The best and first thing is to select hardy varieties for north- 

 ern conditions. Stop cultivation early so that the trees will 

 have sufficient time to fully mature before severe winter weather 

 sets in. A cover crop sown at last cultivation assists in matur- 

 ing the wood early by withdrawing moisture from the trees, and 

 it keeps the soil from washing. Trees planted on well-drained 

 soils are not as liable to heave out in winter. A slight round- 

 ing up of the soil about the tree will carry away the surface 

 water and obviate any danger from water standing about the 

 trunk. This is particularly true with young trees. A wire 

 screen of small mesh placed about young trees to the height of 

 eighteen inches will lessen the danger from mice in winter. A 

 common practice is to tramp the snow down about the trees 

 after each heavy storm. This renders the conditions unfavora- 

 ble for the mice to attack the trees from below. Trees need 

 protection in winter until they are of fairly good size. One 

 example was called to my attention where mice fairly destroyed 

 a young and thrifty apple orchard that had come well into bear- 

 ing. Kabbits are equally troublesome at times, and they should 

 be fed, destroyed, or have the trees protected against them. 



(8) Picking the Fruit. 



In order to work to advantage, picking conveniences should 

 be devised. Where trees are not over fifteen feet high, a step 

 ladder made of three legs, hinged at the top, and of light but 

 durable construction, and hence easily portable, is invaluable. 

 It is equally useful in thinning fruit. For taller trees light 

 ladders running to a point at the top are convenient, as they 

 can be easily placed against branches and in the exact places 

 desired. For very tall trees extension ladders are to be pre- 

 ferred. When a tree is well pruned, a picker can usually get 

 through it, and pick a large portion of the crop by standing 

 upon the branches. A light and nimble person is to be pre- 

 ferred for the outer limbs, and if he wears tennis or rubber- 

 soled shoes the injury will not be so great to the tree. 



Each kind of fruit requires very careful and painstaking hand- 



