390 The Principles of Fruit-groiwing. 
they eseape the limbs in low orchards. It is desir- 
able that the front wheels should turn under the 
platform, in order that the wagon may be turned at. 
sharp angles. The practice of loading apples and 
other fruits into a wagon box in bulk cannot be 
too strongly deprecated. It is only admissible when 
the apples are of low quality, and are fit) only for 
sale as second and third grades, or for manufacture 
into eider, evaporated stock, or other products. 
The stsles of ladders to be used must depend 
directly upon the height of the trees. In old apple 
orchards, if is nearly always essential to have long 
and light ladders, with a sharp or peaked top, which 
ean be run directly up into the top of the tree and 
find lodgment against the Iranches. Extension lad- 
devs are also used, but they are usually more eunm- 
bersome and more difficult to manage than the light 
pointed-topped implement which is here mentioned. 
In most other orchards, however, a step-ladder of 
the ordinary pattern, but perhaps somewhat taller 
(running from ten to even twelve fect high), is all 
that will be required. This ladder should have a 
flat top, and also a movable shelf upon its baek, 
where baskets may be placed. The facility of pick- 
ing fruit is very much increased if the trees have 
been well trained and pruned. Dwarf pears should 
rarely reach a height of more than twelve or fifteen 
feet; and if pear and apple trees are planted suffi- 
ciently far apart, and are kept open at the base, the 
pickers can reach most of the fruit by climbing. Jn 
the picking of apples and pears, there is nothing 
