HARVESTING, MARKETING AND STORING FRUIT. 133 



experience. A rule for this cannot be laid down for every class 

 of fruits. 



Time to Pick Fruit. Strawberries are picked when they 

 begin to turn red, and raspberries when the fruits part readily 

 from the stem on which they grow; blackberries and dewber- 

 ries as soon as well colored, although the flavor would general- 

 ly be improved by allowing them to remain longer on the 

 plants. Gooseberries are generally marketed green; currants 

 are allowed to color, but are not allowed to ripen and are gener- 

 ally preferred for jelly-making when a few berries show some 

 green color. Cherries are picked as soon as well colored. This 

 will depend somewhat on the variety. Plums may be picked 

 when they are well colored. The Japanese kinds color well 

 after picking. Prunes are generally allowed to ripen on the 

 trees and are shaken off if to be used for 

 drying. If to be shipped for use when 

 fresh, they are picked as soon as well col- 

 ored. Pears are usually picked as soon as 

 full grown and are preferably ripened in 

 the shade. For the distant market it Is 

 necessary that pears be shipped green 

 and be allowed to ripen in transit. At 

 Fresno, California, the season for Bart- 

 lett pears lasts two months, the first ship- 

 ments beginning as soon as the fruit Is 

 large enough to sell. Peaches for the 

 nearby market are picked as soon as they 

 begin to show a slight softness and be- 

 fore they are mellow; for the distant mar- 

 ket, they are picked quite gre-en. Summer 

 cooking apples are generally picked as 

 soon as large enough to use, without re- 

 gard to ripeness. All the summer apples 

 that are to be shipped must be picked green 

 as th-ey are quite perishable when ripe. It may be best, however, 

 to allow them to color a little. Late varieties are picked as soon 

 as well colored and before severe frosts. Apples should always 

 be picked earlier if they show by the windfalls that they are 



Fig. 63. Ladder in 

 common use for 

 picking fruit. 



