PACKING APPLES. 59 



Northern Spys to keep so well as when picked- near the 

 middle of October, after half the leaves had fallen. 

 Professor Lazenby reports an experiment in picking Bald- 

 wins at different stages of maturity. Those picked early 

 kept long, but wilted. Those picked when fully ma- 

 tured kept well and Avere excellent in quality. Those 

 picked late kept poorly. 



CHAPTEE XVI. 

 PACKING APPLES. 



It matters little how thoroughly the grower may have 

 eared for his trees and growing fruit, if he does not exer- 

 cise the same or even more scrupulous care in the hand- 

 ling and marketing of his crop he will fail to obtain a 

 profit. Care in harvesting and marketing is fully equiv- 

 alent, probably much more than equivalent, to all the 

 other labors of the year combined. Still, it is a patent 

 fault with our orchardists that this part of tlieir business 

 is not studied closely. 



Apples must be handled Avith care. ''Handle apples 

 as you would handle eggs," is good advice. Do not shake 

 them from the tree. When a basket is handed down 

 from the tree another is returned, while the apples in 

 the basket are sorted. The sorting is easily done by hav- 

 mg an empty basket at one hand into which the choice 

 apples are placed, while the culls are placed in a pile on 

 the ground. An experienced man can sort rapidly and 

 accurately. The choice apples are commonly placed di- 



