262 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



flesh near the fold or crease running from the stem toward 

 the apex). While we have largely eliminated varieties 

 that show a decided tendency to soften first at this point, 

 we still find some specimens that do it. Specimens with 

 split pits generally soften at the suture side first. 



Peaches must be handled carefully, as fruit bruised in 

 picking or packing will not carry any great distance. 

 Most peach-growers favor a rigid picking receptacle, as a 

 bucket or a sheet metal picking bag. The metal picking 

 receptacle shown in Figure 66 is a very good form. It is 

 furnished with a drop-bottom and fruit may be easily 

 transferred to a box without being bruised. Peaches car- 

 ried in canvas picking bags are more or less bruised by 

 striking against limbs or the ladder, or by being pressed 

 between the picker and the limbs or the ladder. The fruit, 

 should be transported from the orchard to the packing 

 shed in shallow boxes. A very good box for such work is 

 that shown at the base of the tree in the foreground in 

 Figure 70. Most growers use a sled for short hauls and 

 a wagon with springs for a longer haul. 



Picking Pears 



Most pears are picked rather green and ripened in 

 storage, so that it is difficult to give rules that will guide 

 the inexperienced grower. If pears are allowed to ripen 

 on the tree, or if they are even allowed to advance far 

 enough to show any pronounced indications of ripening, 

 the fruit softens at the core and soon rots in transit or 

 in storage; and, unlike most other fruits, the pear ripened 

 in storage is of better flavor than when allowed to mature 

 on the tree. Nearly every one not accustomed to hand- 



