GLEAM. 19 



others to ship it south. We determined, therefore, 

 to market our crop there. In marketing the pre- 

 vious smaller crops we had used four large wagon 

 boxes, made long and high, in which to haul the 

 fruit to Howard. After wheat sowing with us, 

 there is a lull in work, so we easily procured pickers 

 to gather the fruit, and three teams, in addition to 

 our own, for hauling it. The light ladders, the bas- 

 kets, all the appurtenances for picking were in good 

 order. It was on a most beautiful day that the four 

 wagons, each with one of the large boxes on it, were 

 driven to the orchard, and the pickers began their 

 merry work. We began picking just after dinner, 

 so that the fruit might be perfectly dry. Before 

 night the boxes were filled, and covered with blan- 

 kets to protect them from the damp night air. 

 Early in the morning we went to Howard, sold the 

 four loads, deposited the money in the bank, and 

 were home again at noon. In the afternoon the 

 pickers were again at work, and the wagons were 

 filled in readiness for the next morning. So the 

 work went on until we had drawn to market, and 

 sold for cash, 3,169 bushels — all of our crop which 

 was to be sold that fall. We received 73 cents per 

 bushel. After paying all expenses of picking and 

 hauling, our crop of apples, for fall market, netted us 

 the comfortable sum of $1,196.47. The average yield 

 per tree had been more than seven and a half bushels. 



