86 



CRANBERRY CULTURE. 



In New Jersey, we commence picking on savannas 

 about the middle of September ; but on our densely mat- 

 ted swamp lands, it is deferred until the 1st of October; 

 the time being regulated by the coloring of the berries. 

 The work should commence as soon as they are suffi- 

 ciently colored to command good prices, in order that 

 they may all be gatherel before the first heavy frost, 

 whicli may be looked for towards the la^t of October. 



Much care is requisite, while picking, to secure the ber- 

 ries without bruising them. If 

 they are poured into bags, and 

 used for seats by the pickers, 

 or thrown over their shoulders 

 and carried half a mile or so, 

 over a rough road, the loss from 

 shrinkage and decay will be 

 very considerable. But if the 

 fruit is picked in peck baskets 



- ^ ^ ^ . iig-. 32.— PORTABLE FAN. 



or boxes, and poured direcily 



into the packaires in which they arc to be shipped, no loss 

 from the handling will ensue. 



When dead vines, grass, etc., are gathered with tlie 

 fruit, they may be blown out while it is being poured into 

 the barrel, by using a very light, movable fan (fig. 82), 



made to clamp the edge of 

 the barrel, somewhat in the 

 same manner that a clothes- 

 wringer is fastened to the 

 Fig. 83.— PECK BOX. tub. This machine would 



also remove the dried or shriveled berries, and leave the 

 fruit in a good marketable condition. 



The idea is for the picker to pour a peck of berries into 

 the hopper. A, and turn the crank B while they are run- 

 ning through. The invention is not patented, and we 

 give it to the public for what it is worth. 



We have used peck boxes^ fig. 33, for picking in, made 



