PICKING EQUIPMENT 



235 



point appeals to any man who employs a number of pickers. 

 Never buy the rough type of picking basket shown in Figure 113. 

 They cost just as much and bruise the fruit far more. Another 

 type of picking receptacle which is very objectionable is the 

 picking bag (Fig. 114). There are various types of these, from 

 a home-made contrivance made from a grain sack and designed 

 to sling over the shoulder, to the cross between a pail and a 

 bag with iron sides and a cloth bottom. With a very careful 



^IG. 112.- — A good picking basket. The smooth surface dues not bruise the fruit uud the 

 padding helps still more to reduce this type of damage. 



Fig. 113. — A poor type of picking basket for fruit, yet one often used. The rough sides are 

 sure to bruise the fruit. 



picker they may work very well, though even then it is difficult 

 to see how fruit can escape being bruised more or less as the 

 operator moves about in picking. With the usual help that 

 must be employed when there is much picking to do, it is simply 

 out of the question to avoid a lot of serious injury. Tt probably 

 will not show itself when the fruit is emptied into the box or 

 barrel; frequently it may not show when it is packed, but it 

 certainly will in the long run. Such fruit cannot keep as well 

 as that which has not been subjected to this treatment. 



