343 



The screens shown in the lower part of the illustration are for 

 apricots and plums ; larger holes would be required for larger 

 fruits. 



The shoot is hung on the uprights with iron straps about one 

 foot long, in which holes are punched so that the pitch of the shoot 

 may be changed. A rocking motion can thus be imparted to the 

 shoot by means of a lever bolted to the under side of the frame. 

 This lever when pulled and released strikes a bumper provided 

 alongside, and gives to the rocking shoot a jar, which sends the 

 fruit along. 



As the fruit is picked it is consigned to some receptacle until 

 it can be emptied into a case or taken to the packing shed. In 



order to obviate the necessity of con- 

 tinuously going down the steps or of 

 stooping to let down the picked fruit, 

 that vessel must be within easy reach. 

 The following illustration is that of 

 the New Jersey peach basket, which is 

 in the shape of the inverted frustrum 

 of a cone. It is made of wood splints 

 and has a flat or a curved cover. These 

 baskets are held at about one's waist 

 by dropping them into a hoop which is 

 held upon the person by a strap over 

 the shoulder. The picker has thus the 

 use of both hands. When filled it is 

 left in the shade under the tree whence 

 it is removed by a cart to the packing 

 shed, when the contents are sorted, graded, and packed. 



For most fruit an ordinary wicker basket with a handle is very 

 convenient. Some line the basket with bagging to deaden the fall 

 and avoid bruises. 



Strawberries are best packed straight away into the small 

 wooden punnets, and when thus filled they may be placed without 

 further handling into strong crates. 



PACKING. 



Good fruit deserves good packing, and bad fruit will not sell 

 without it. Every orchardist should be well imbued of that fact, 

 and keep it well in mind. Anything that tends to give the buyer 

 the idea that extra care has been used in the packing will pay. 



It is admitted on all hands that apart from detracting from 

 the look of the contents, and bringing for first-class fruit second- 

 class prices, the pernicious practice of using soiled, stained, second- 

 hand packages often proves to be the means of unconsciously 

 distributing destructive orchard pests. 



The idea that second-hand cases are cheaper than new sawn 

 cases is, when all is considered, very questionable. They cost, it is 

 true, to purchase less than new cases, but the extra cost of freight, 



Peacli Basket. 



