The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-11-22
FARM NOTES.

At recent convention Of fruit growers the
following short discussion took place on the
above topic.
s. NJ. Pearsail, Grand Raplds-"I can sum
up the matter very shortly. All one wants in
order to gather properly is low headed trees, a
good, strong but light step ladder, basket
with a strong handle, hook to attach to q
limb and the exercise Of great care. There is
no money in shaking fruit from trees or club
bling them from the limbs. l have had long
experience and find that care is the great ele-
ment IN successfully gathering fruit. The
barrels of apples that have cost the most in
gathering have Melted the greatest profits
j. Austin Scott, Ann Arbor-" For sixty
years | have gathered apples and have made
the business profitable by having method IN
my gathering and packing. have never placed
any fruit upon the market that would be
shame to me were my name upon the package
l am satisfied from cursory view Of the fruit
stands here in Jackson that fruit Is not handled
with enough discretion"
j. ID. Baldwin, Ana Arbor-"I believe in
heading apple trees low SO that large part OF
the crop may be gathered from the ground
1t is impossible to climb through high topped
tree without doing lasting injury 10 1t and
this may all be saved by the ard OF jack knife
when the tree is young. My experience leads
tween the first and second sweats. Ny method
would bs this: Pick the apples and put IN
piles to sweat then barrel and ship as soon as
practicable. Fifteen per cent is lost in shrink
age by sweating the first time
Vim. Rowe, Grand Rapids" Thomas Wilde
Of Berlin raises from six to eighteen acres OF
strawberries each season, and adopts a clearly
defined method in his gathering OF the fruit
The pIckers are governed by set OF printed
rules placed IN their hands when they tegin
operations. Boxes of berries that do not come
up to the standard are charged back to the
picker, and by this method the proprietor puts
nothing but No. fruit on the market, with his
best mark upon it. His fruit Is graded into
three grades, and is made to pay a large profit
on the mark Of assortment
I. t. Lyon, South Hsven-"In the handling
Of pears We find different rules governing the
gathering Pears are better ripened in the
drawer than on the tree, and success will not
attend the shipment OF green pears picked
from the tree and shipped direct. neither will it
do to allow them to npen first before picking.
Ny own practice has peen to ripen in the dark,
then ship them in prime condition for the mar
ket.'
{. W. Merriman-"I In pears greater care is
necessary in the gathering than with almost
any other kind OF fruit. and experience here il
everything man may get along pretty well
With theoretical knowledge OF handling APP
piles, but with pears he must have experience
to succeed"
Mr.. Prngle. Jacksoa-"I have had no per-
sonal experience, but from observation should
say that 1t pays in many cases to pack apples
as they do oranges South, by placing each
specimen in piece OF paper. The paper alb
serbs any exhalations, and in pears 1t seems to
me this is an important item"
II. Z. Thomas" How important is it to have
the stems Of apples preserved in packing ?"
Mr.. Pearsall-"It is of the greatest import
ance, when we consider the matter OF keeping
for any length of time"
L. L. Lyon" The rule should be inhexible.
for show, for keeping or for market, that the
stem should be preserved intact
MANURISG FRUIT TREES
From fifteen to thirty bushels of apples,
added to the growth OF good-sz apple tree,
is a good deal to take from piece OF ground
thrty-two or forty feet square, and unless
something beside the leaves is given back, ex
haustion OF soil and consequent depreciation OF
fruit win ensue. The editor OF the German
town Telegraph speaks thus OF manuring trees !:
A top dressing Of almost anything applied in
the spring or fall will work wonders. For spring
fine dressing should be applied, either of ashes
woodpile or road scrapings. washings from
ditches, pulyerized muck, or commercial fertll-
izers. In the faI, compost or BARNARD
manures are to be preferred. Farmers who
hesitate 10 enrich their cr,hards should inform