PICKING 



131 



growers have established camps in which pickers may live 

 during the harvest season. 



5. Picking, Fruit that goes to the retail market is picked 

 with the stems on and before it is fully ripe. Since the fruit 

 improves markedly in size and appearance in the later stages 

 of maturity, it is advisable not to pick sooner than necessary 

 to reach the market in good condition. The picker grasps 

 the stems, rather than the fruit, taking care not to break off 

 the spurs or the buds. Some growers of fruit for a high-class 

 trade prefer to use shears to clip the stems. Fancy cherries, 

 especially the sweet varieties, must be handled with the utmost 

 care, since they readily show the effects of bruising. Fruit 

 for market can be picked only when the weather is dry, as wet 

 cherries mold and rot quickly. 



Sour-cherry trees are usually low enough so that the fruit 

 not reached from the ground may be picked from a tripod lad- 

 der. For higher-growing sweet varieties the usual orchard 

 ladders also may be needed. Picking receptables may be 

 5- to 10-quart pails or baskets holding from 6 to 10 pounds. 

 Straps run through the handles and tied about the waist, or 

 books for hanging the receptacle on the branches, permit the 

 use of both hands for picking. Pickers may be paid by the 

 day or piece. 



The quantity picked in a day depends upon the size of the 

 crop, the type of tree, and the proficiency of the picker, varying 

 from 100 to 300 pounds per day in most sections. Probably 

 200 pounds is an average when the trees are carrying good 

 crops. Women and girls make good pickers. 



Large quantities of cherries go to the canner. For this 

 purpose the fruit is permitted to hang until fully ripe. It 

 should be stripped from the trees without stems, if it is to be 

 canned at once, since this saves the cost of stemming. 

 However, such fruit will go down almost immediately after 

 picking and must be processed without delay. 



Some growers sell their whole crop to juice manufacturers 

 ' or to packers of frozen fruit. 



