PICKING. 87 



of light material, in the following manner, viz. : The sides 

 are of boards, half an inch in thickness, 13'| ^ inches long, 

 and 6 inches wide ; about these were nailed thin strips of 

 lath, 9 inches long, making the inside dimensions, when 

 finished, 13' |, in. x 8 in. x 6 in., or equal to a heaped peck. 

 A wooden handle is then screwed to the top. 



This box is cheaper than a peck basket, gives good 

 satisfaction, and, when properly constructed, will last 

 several years. 



In order to pick the meadow over, if the vines have 

 been planted in drills, let each picker take the space be- 

 tween two of the original rows, pick on it for about one 

 hundred yards to a given line, and then walk back and 

 start a new row. The object in turning back is to prevent 

 confusion, which will inevitably result if they are allowed 

 to pick in both directions, or if the rows are long and in- 

 distinct. 



Where there are no rows visible, but only a solid mat 

 of vines, let the pickers all start in evenly, with instruc- 

 tions to keep in a straight line, which they can nearly do, 

 for a short distance, by the slowest pickers taking the 

 narrowest strips, and vice versa. 



Sometimes, when no rows are to be seen, the meadow 

 is staked off in lots of a few square rods each (this should 

 be done in spring, to avoid trampling upon the berries), 

 and regularly picked over, each picker taking one lot at 

 a time. 



Some care is necessary, at first, to properly discipline 

 the pickers, and cause them to pick clean as they go. 

 This may be done by calling them back in a pleasant, but 

 decided manner, to gather any berries that may have 

 been found after them. They will soon take the hint, 

 and perform their work carefully. 



It is very important that a reliable and expeditious 

 method of keeping the pickers' accounts be adopted, es- 

 pecially if you have a large quantity of fruit to gather. 



