The Canadian Horticulturist, 



37 



weighs about 40 pounds (see fig. 11). The crane, or basket and hook 

 holder, rotates, or may be shifted to either side of the operator, will support 

 thirty pounds of fruit in basket with ease, and the legs all fold in when 



required. The object of the inventor 

 to provide a safe stand, and at the 

 same time increase the facilities of 

 the operator in picking fruit, pruning 

 trees, etc., giving him the full use of 

 both hands, and placing the basket 

 within easy reach of the same, thereby 

 saving time in transporting the fruit 

 from the tree to the basket. The 

 inventor believes that by the use of this 

 ladder a great saving of time will be 

 effected in the picking of fruit, which is 

 equivalent to a saving of money ; also 

 that fruit can be handled with less 

 damage by bruising, etc., and therefore 

 bring more money. 



The Ohio Farmer illustrates a very 

 convenient self-supporting stepladder 

 for use in gathering fruit from high 

 grown dwarf pear trees. Most of us 

 know how difficult it is to use an ordin- 

 ary ladder in a full grown dwarf 

 pear orchard, for, either the ladder 

 will bruise the fruit in placing, or will 

 be so insecure as to render climbing 

 unsafe. Fig. 12 represents the ladder referred to, and is so simple in con- 

 struction that it needs no description. Its use in case of slender trees is 

 plainly evident, whether pruning or fruit gathering is required to be done. 



Fig. 12. 



-Ladder for Dwarf Pear Trees. 



PRUNING THE GRAPE. 



The best time to prune the vineyard is, no doubt, the month of Novem- 

 ber, when the weather is pleasant for the operator, and the vines need 

 loosening from the trellises, and laying down for winter protection, 

 especially at the north ; but, if done in that month, they should be pruned 

 a little longer than if left until March, because the severe weather of winter 

 is very likely to destroy the last bud, or, at least, to weaken it. In practice, 

 however, a great many postpone this work until the latter date, a time of 

 chilling winds, muddy walking, and of bleeding vines. However, better 

 late than never, and hence the following hints which may be of service to 

 the beginner. It is astonishing to any one who is posted, to notice the 



