CHAPTER XIV 

 HANDLING THE CROP 



THE handling of the crop includes the operations from 

 the time the fruit is ripe until it is put on the market. 

 Special care is necessary in picking and packing in order 

 that the apples may reach the market in good condition. 



PICKING (PLATE xvin) 



The time of picking varies greatly with the variety and 

 with the season. Other influences, such as age of trees and 

 cultural practices, may also affect the time of this opera- 

 tion. It is generally thought that fruit comes to maturity 

 earlier on older trees than on young ones ; also that apples 

 grown on sod land should be picked sooner than those in 

 cultivated orchards. As a rule, over-maturity is to be 

 feared more than immaturity, although both conditions 

 may be disastrous. Maturity in most instances means 

 hard ripe and not eating ripe. Since the time of picking 

 has so much to do with the keeping qualities of the fruit, 

 it is important that the ripening tendencies of each variety 

 be studied in every particular locality. The following 

 points should be taken into consideration in order to de- 

 termine the correct picking time for different varieties of 

 apples : 1. The ease with which the fruit separates from 

 the spur; 2. the red color; 3. size; 4. color of seeds; 5. 

 tendencies of certain varieties to drop. 

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