212 



THE PEACH ORCHARD 



much earlier than for home use. "When the crop is to be marketed 

 near by they can be more nearly ripe than if they are to be shipped 

 some distance. Often the California crop is picked ten to fifteen 

 days before it is sold on the eastern markets. During this time 

 the fruit is becoming riper in packages. This plan, however, does 

 not allow for as much development of sugar, and the fruit is apt 

 to have a bitter taste. The longer the crop remains upon the 

 trees the sweeter and richer the flavor will be. 



Always pick the fruit by hand; never allow it to be shaken from 

 the trees and gathered from the ground. With low-headed trees 



small step ladders will 

 enable the picker to 

 reach all parts without 

 climbing. (Fig. 141). 

 On high -headed trees 

 some climbing may be 

 necessary, or longer lad- 

 ders may be used. 



If the crop has been 

 thinned little sorting of 

 the fruit will be neces- 

 sary, as it will practi- 

 cally all be of first grade 

 size. The tliinning is 

 done when the peaches 

 are about the size of 

 cherries. Only enough 



Fig. 138. — Some light pruning each year is the best peaches are left On the 

 plan. Note the amount of pruninga under the tree. , , ,-% . . ,. 



This tree might have the branches thinned out a trifle trees at tninning time 



so that they will not 

 touch each other when they become full size. They should not 

 be left closer than four inches. Enough improvement in size and 

 quality is attained to greatly increase the value of the peaches 

 produced. The cost of thinning is very little, and the crop 

 brings a better price. Figure 142 shows bad effects of not prun- 

 ing the tree nor thinning the fruit. 



Peach Packages. — The best fruit for market is packed in crates 

 containing six one-half peck baskets. This is called the Georgia 

 carrier, or the Georgia crate (Fig. 143). 



The next grade of fruit is quite commonly packed in Climax 

 baskets with wood or wire handles over the center. The cover 



