Picking-Baskets 



373 



deposit the fruit after he has picked it. The baskets are 

 filled about level full, all the fruits that are ripe enough for 

 picking being saved indiscriminately. The basket is then 

 set in the shade alongside the tree from which the fruit 

 was taken, and at intervals a wagon or cart collects the 

 baskets and takes them to the packing-room, where 

 the fruit is sorted, graded and packed. 



In the picking 

 of apples, the best 

 method is ordi- 

 narily to use a 

 half -bushel, round- 

 bottomed, splint 

 (not woven) bas- 

 ket with a swing- 

 ing handle (as in 

 Fig. 137). If the 

 basket is lined on 

 the inside with 

 thick cloth or bur- 

 lap, it will answer 

 the purpose all the 

 better. This bas- 

 ket is provided 

 with a strong wire hook that can be hung over a limb, allow- 

 ing the picker to have both hands free. There are special 

 conveniences for apple-picking, which are not proper 

 subjects for discussion in a general fruit-book. 



There are various appliances to facilitate the picking 

 of fruit, some of which may be briefly mentioned. The 

 fruit-picker should provide himself with an ample supply 

 of crates or baskets, or whatever other receptacle may be 

 used in the field. The receptacles should be strong and 



FIG. 139. Picking stone-fruits. 



