224 . 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[June, 
a more detailed description we must refer to 
Mr. Walsh's Report. In June the beetle de¬ 
posits its egg in the young grape, leaving as its 
mark a dark, circular dot. The larva, when 
hatched, feeds upon the contents of the berry, 
which continues, to all appearance, sound and 
plump. The full-grown grub is almost two- 
tenths of an inch long, legless, yellowish-wliite, 
with a horny, pale brownish-yellow head. Late 
in July, or early in August, the larva drops to 
the ground, or the berry containing it falls from 
the bunch, and it makes its way below the sur¬ 
face of the earth, where it undergoes its trans¬ 
formation, and comes out a perfect insect in 
September. Where the females secrete them¬ 
selves until the following spring is not yet made 
out. Tiie accounts of the destructiveness of 
this insect come from Illinois, Oiiio, and Ken¬ 
tucky; in the last-named State sixteen acres of 
vines in one place have been ruined by it. As 
it possesses sufficient powers of flight, grape 
growers should be on the look-out for its ap¬ 
pearance. Mr. Walsh states that there are 
several parasites that feed upon its larva, and 
thus seem to diminish their numbers, and rec¬ 
ommends j'arring the perfect insects from the 
vines and catching them upon a sheet. When 
alarmed, as by a slight rap upon the vine, they 
drop even more readily than the Plum curculio. 
Picking and Marketing Fruits. 
When the small fruits begin to ripen, horti¬ 
culture affiliates with commerce, and he who 
has heretofore given all his thought to raising 
fruit mustmow turn his attention to disposing 
of it. Much of the pecuniary success depends 
upon the way in which the fruit reaches the 
market. In the Eastern markets small fruits of 
most kinds are sold in baskets or other pack¬ 
ages, holding nominally a pint or a quart; while 
at the West, they anj sent to market in trays 
holding a half bushel, and are measured out to 
the purchaser. To several inquirers as to the 
best box or basket for fruit, we have not replied, 
PICKING STAND. 
as the question is yet unsettled. It depends in 
a great measure upon local prejudices. What¬ 
ever package is used, it should admit of being 
well rounded up, so that when it reaches mar¬ 
ket it will be at least level full. A basket con¬ 
taining three-quarters of a pint, if it is well 
rounded, will be preferred by the majority of 
purchasers, to a full pint of fruit that does not 
fill the basket. Very few people have a definite 
idea of what a pint or a quart is, and a wide 
difference may be made in the capacity of bas¬ 
kets, without the inexperienced being able to 
perceive it. Until we have a law, or custom, 
which prescribes that fruit shall be sold by 
weight, the grower must observe the customs 
that people have made “alaw unto themselves.” 
"Why cherries, currants, and grapes should sell 
by the pound, and strawberries, blackberries, 
etc., by measure, is not easy to perceive. We 
advocate selling by weight, but as all our peo¬ 
ple buy by measure, we must accept it.. Pick¬ 
ing of the small -fruits is generally done by the 
piece—so much for the so-called quart. On 
large fruit farms, the succession of small fruits, 
beginning with strawberries and ending with 
blackberries, furnishes employment for at least 
three months. We know of some establish¬ 
ments where the pickers are employed by the 
day, but this is where there is a class of women 
who are willing to do hoeing and other field 
work, and may be considered exceptional. The 
work is mainly done by women and girls, though 
boys and feeble men sometimes take a part. In 
fruit communities it is not considered “degrad¬ 
ing” for any one, whatever his pretensions, to 
go into the field. And why should it be any¬ 
where ? A shanty or tent is put lip in the field, 
as the headquarters of the “boss,” and to shel¬ 
ter the fruit from the sun. The empty baskets 
are delivered from here and are received here 
when filled. Each picker has a stand like that 
shown in the engraving. It is made of the 
proper size to hold twelve baskets; besides these 
the picker usually takes as many more as she 
can bring back in her hand when filled. Each 
picker has her row assigned to her, and she is 
expected to pick it clean. A foreman passes : 
along the rows occasionally to see that the work 
is properly done. The fruit is to be picked with 
the hull on, and the stem must be broken with¬ 
out injuring any fruit yet unripe. The fruit is 
to be assorted as it is picked, and all of under 
size or defective shape to.be put into baskets by 
itself. When the picker returns with full bas¬ 
kets to headquarters, she is credited with the 
number of them on a check list, or receives tick¬ 
ets for them, according to custom. The one 
who receives the fruit puts the baskets into the 
crates, placing the poorer fruit in a crate by 
itself, to sell as second rate. The overseer of 
the whole work must see that no part is slighted, 
the fruit must be properly assorted, picked 
clean, and the baskets properly rounded. Some¬ 
times the fruit is picked in trays and afterwards 
assorted and put into baskets ; but this is an old 
way, and is not advisable, as it requires the fruit 
to be handled twice. Picking should not com¬ 
mence until the dew is off, and the fruit after 
being gathered should be sheltered from the 
heat of the sun as soon as possible. It should 
be so arranged that the picking of one day shall 
reach the market the next morning. This, of 
course, often requires night work, and there ■ 
should be a sufficient force to carry out every 
part with promptness. All crates and packages 
should be plainly marked with the name of the 
owner, and, if forwarded by public conveyance, 
both that of the owner and consignee should be 
placed on the package. Baskets rounded full and 
a little pressed will reach their destination in bet¬ 
ter condition than those merely level full, where 
the berries have a chance to rattle by jolting. 
Supports for Climbing Plants. 
Annual climbing plants are general favorites; 
their graceful forms and often brilliant flowers 
add much to the beauty of a garden. The}' are 
a little more troublesome 
than other annuals, as some 
kind of support must be 
provided for them. At the 
iron-work stores various 
kinds of wire trellises are 
sold, but these are general¬ 
ly too expensive for most persons, and are too 
formal in design for any but highly kept 
grounds. A very common support is to plant 
a central pole, from the top of which arc fasten¬ 
ed numerous strings which at their other ends 
are attached to pegs driven in the ground in a 
circle, making a tall cone, The objection to 
this is its formality, and that the vines become 
crowded above, just where they should have 
the most room. This seems to be the best way 
of growing the cypress vine, but for more 
robust climbers we do not like it. The support 
that pleases us best, as it gives the climbers a 
chance to follow their own sweet will, and ar¬ 
range themselves in graceful and picturesque 
forms, is made from a young tree well fur¬ 
nished with branches. Cedar is best, but any 
other of the proper form will do, if the portion 
that goes into the ground be dipped in gas-tar, 
or solution of blue vitriol. Cut the limbs back 
to such a length as fancy may dictate, only 
avoid making the support top-heavy. What¬ 
ever support is used, it must be set firmly in the 
ground. It should not be forgotten that the 
SUPPORT FOR CLIMBERS. 
mass of vines that will cover it will offer a 
broad surface to the wind, and if not firmly set, 
the whole will be apt to go over when the vines 
are just in their prime. Trellises for such low 
growers as Sweet Peas, Nasturtiums, etc., may be 
made in various ways. Where formality will 
not be an objection, a modification of the 
English pea hurdle will answer. Cross bars, 
pierced with holes, are nailed to uprights, and 
through the holes twine is drawn, in the man¬ 
ner shown in the engraving. The length and 
strength of the parts will be governed by the 
plants for which it is to be used. Those for peas 
are made of two-incli stuff. It is best to wet the 
twine before it is put on, as it shrinks and 
slackens less afterwards. These, if the portions 
in the ground are protected from rotting by 
gas-tar, may be. preserved for several years. 
The Grape Vine—How it Grows and What 
to Do with it.—5 tli Article. 
-»■-- 
Last month we extended our vine until it bore 
four upright canes, but this is not enough for a 
well-established vine, and in order to get a 
greater amount of bearing wood a little differ¬ 
ent course must be. followed. Having our vine, 
figure 8, with two well-grown canes, we will 
first show how it is managed on the Horizontal- 
Arm and Spur system of pruning. This is 
sometimes called Fuller’s system, probably be¬ 
cause Mr. F. gives preference to it, and clearly 
explains it in his excellent Grape Cullurist; but 
we are quite sure he makes no claim to having 
originated it. The two upright canes in the 
figure are to be pruned at the length of four 
feet, as shown by the cross line. These canes 
are to be bent down to form horizontal arms, 
from the buds of which upright, fruit-bearing 
shoots may grow. We assume that a trellis of 
some kind has been built, and that the lo}yer 
Fig. 11.— ARMS BENT DOWN. 
