FRUIT GROWING 151 



HARVESTING APPLES. 



Much of the value of any fruit crop depends upon how 

 it is harvested. For first-class fruit it must be hand 

 picked, though with low-headed young trees and a mulch 

 on the ground we may let such varieties as Astrachan, 

 Williams, Wealthy, Gravenstein, etc., drop to the 

 ground, and sell them at good prices for immediate use. 



For harvesting apples a variety of lengths of ladders is 

 necessary, according to the character of the trees. The 

 shorter the ladder that can be used the better and 

 quicker will the picking be done. The tripod ladder 

 shown in Fig. 56 is a very cheap one and easily con- 

 structed, one that will stand anywhere and occupies 

 little space when the leg is folded in.. The leg is bolted 

 in between the two side pieces, making a very strong but 

 light ladder. 



Small baskets holding from a peck to a half bushel 

 with a bale are necessary to pick into while in the tree. 



Time for Harvesting Apples. 



Early apples to be sent to market must be picked as 

 soon as fully grown but before they become mellow. 

 Such varieties as Astrachan, Williams, Gravenstein, 

 etc., as previously mentioned, if intended for a local mar- 

 ket, may be allowed to fall upon mulch if the trees are 

 not too high. When ripened in this manner the fruit is 

 more brilliantly colored, of better quality, and is more 

 cheaply picked from the ground than from the trees. 



Winter varieties should not be picked until fully 

 grown and well colored, but before severe weather, which 

 in the. New England states ranges from September 20 to 

 October 20, according to the season and the variety. 



To keep well, apples should be put into a cool place as 

 soon as possible after picking. This may be a north shed, 



