150 HARVESTING, STORING, AND MARKETING 



COMMUNITY STUDIES 



Make a survey of the practices of the growers in your community 

 as follows. Do this for each fruit of commercial importance. 



1. Varieties grown in order of importance. 



2. Average picking dates or order of picking. 



3. Kinds of ladders used — reasons for selection, where obtained, and 

 cost. 



4. Kinds of picking receptacles — reasons for use, where obtained, cost. 



5. How fruit is picked — ^by day, by package — quantity picked in day 

 by each method — wages and rates paid. 



6. Yields per tree and per acre — make estimate and then check with 

 actual yields. 



7. How fruit is handled after picking — ^in orchard, in crates or barrels 

 or other packages and hauled under cover. 



8. Is crop packed? If not, how handled? 



9. If packed, how soon after picking? 



10. What package is used? Why? Cost of package? 



11. How many packages packed in day? Cost of packing? 



12. What is the proportion of fruit that packs into various grades? 

 What disposition is made of fruit not packed? 



13. How is fruit held after packing? 



14. How and to whom is fruit sold? Prices received? 



15. Make sketch of a packing house, and indicate improvements in 

 lighting, arrangement of equipment, rapidity of handling, and storage. 



16. Study the operation of a roadside stand, with reference to location 

 to invite patronage, attractiveness and convenience, first cost, cost of 

 attendant at stand, number of days operated during the season, kinds 

 and grades of fruit desired by patrons, average daily and seasonal sales. 



17. Study the methods of construction, loading, and refrigeration of a 

 refrigerator car. 



18. Study the United States grades for packing apples and peaches and 

 the packing and branding requirements of your own state, if any. 



B. Make a survey of the storage facilities of your community. Begin 

 with the ordinaiy cellar storage. Follow with the special fruit cellar 

 and storage building, and finish with a cold-storage plant. 



Investigate : 



1. Location: 



a. Ease of access to orchard and with team or truck. 



b. Access to shipping point. 



2. Facilities for unloading 



