The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1882-10-13
FARM AND HOME.
packing and Marketing Apples.

In growing apples the whole previous
work may be well done, varieties good,
trees thrifty and well cared for, yet the
profits may be very materially lessened by
inattention in the manner Of gatheringand
preparing for market. Apples that are to
be kept for any length of time should be
carefully hand-picked from the tree. We
say hand-picked from the tree because
everybody that offers apples for sale claims
that his apples are hand-picked; therefore
there seems to be two methods OF hand
picking-the one to pick the fruit carefully
from the tree, the other to shake the tree
and hand. pick from the ground. If the
apples are expected to keep, the first method
must be adopted and the fruit carefully
handled, after picking. The proper time
for picking is when the fruit separates
easily from the twig. This condition indi-
Gates sufficient degree of ripeness. APP
Piles that are picked much before this, il
properly handled and well cared for, will
keep, but lose something in flavor.
Before commencing to pick from the
tree gather all the windfalls from the
ground, and do not mix these with the
good apples; then with basket climb the
tree, pick, and carefully place each good
apple In the basket. Handle the apples
like eggs, not like rocks. When the basket
is full do not hold it foot or more above
the barrel and pour in, but placing the
basket in the barrel carefully turn il over
SO that the apples will not rap against the
sides of the barrel or against each other.
The apples may be partially sorted while
picking, the poor ones being dropped to
the ground,
AS soon as picked the apples should be
storedIin cool place, sorted, and prepared
for market as soon as practicable. In do
ing this keep the different qualities separate.
1t is maxim of military science that the
strength of a defensive work is no great
or than the strength of its weakest
point, SO in preparing fruit for market, II
the first and second qualities are mixed the
whole will sell for second quality. What
ever may be the quality of the fruit be
sure and make the apples at the top fair
sample of the whole package. According
to the lessons learned by our own expert
ence it has for several years past been safer
to sell early in the season than to hold for
a higher price. Whether this will be the
wiser course the present season remains to
be seen. We would advise no farmer to
hold his apples until Spring hoping for
higher price unless he bestows the utmost
care in gathering and has the very best
facilities for keeping At best the chances
arc that the enhanced price next Spring
if contrary to the experience OF the past
few years the price is then any better than
at present-will not make up fol the shrink
age and cost of extra labor. Whether
stored in anticipation of higher market or
for family use apples must be kept cool
as near the freezing point as possible with
out freezing. The less fruit is handled the
better, therefore after it has been well
assorted and put in the cellar it should re-
main unmoested until wanted for use or
sale. If the conditions are all good, the
cellar cool and the apples perfect, it makes
but little difference whether they are stored
in barrels, bins or on shelves.