68 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



PICKING APPAKATUS. 



The picking by hand of such small fruit as olives, from 

 large trees, becomes a very important factor in the success of 

 olive culture, and must be done expeditiously and as cheaply 

 as possible. The fruit of young trees is picked by the use of 

 ordinary stepladders, but to reach the fruit of large trees from 

 twenty to forty feet high requires special contrivances, of 



Gathering olives by the use of stepladders. 



which there are many in use. The old method of knocking 

 the berries off with a pole is not practiced in this State, as the 

 injury to both the fruit and the tree is too great. In several 

 orchards there is used a common ranch wagon with a platform, 

 on which are fastened several ladders that lay up against the 

 tree. The pickers gather the fruit by pulling it with both 

 hands into an apparatus of canvas made in the form of a 

 scoop. The berries are then passed through a powerful fan- 

 ning mill, such as used for cleaning grain, which blows out all 

 leaves, rubbish, and dirt. They are then ready for the drying- 

 house. Mr. Cooper uses what is known as the "Titus" ladder, 

 mounted and supported on wheels (see illustration on page 

 67). These ladders are very convenient, as they are wheeled 

 about with ease, and do not injure the tree in any way. 



