294 The Commercial Apple Industry 



pull off the fruit-spurs and seriously injure the tree in 

 climbing about or in carelessly manipulating the ladders. 

 Delays in picking and also delay before storage often in- 

 volve heavy loss. After the fruit has been picked, it 

 should be put in storage as soon as possible. Two or 

 three days' exposure to warm sun in the orchard after pick- 

 ing will cause the apples to ripen rapidly and the life of 

 the fruit will be materially shortened. Immediately 

 stored fruit is always brighter and firmer than that which 

 is left in the orchard for several days after picking. 



Contract picking versus day labor. 



In connection with the operation of picking, it is im- 

 portant to consider the contract system as compared with 

 day labor from the standpoint of efficiency and economy. 

 The principal objection to contract labor in picking is the 

 danger of careless handling of fruit when the picker tends 

 to sacrifice carefulness for speed. Most growers have 

 avoided contract picking, although the practice is gaining 

 somewhat in popularity in some regions, particularly 

 where labor is scarce. Cost production studies have re- 

 vealed that the contract picker working by the piece will 

 pick on the average of at least 25 per cent more apples in a 

 day than will the day laborer. If competent labor can 

 be secured and carefully overseen, contract picking may 

 offer an opportunity for speed and considerable saving in 

 handling the crop. 



Picking utensils. 



Various types of picking utensils are in use and each 

 has its advantages and disadvantages. The canvas bag, 

 suspended by straps from the shoulder and opening at 



