The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-11-23
Apples for Market.

The market calls for finely cOlored
apples, and it is not far out of the way
to say that quality is not considera-
ton at all. This is somewhat too loud
a statement, but to state the exact
truth. we may say that such an apple,
other things being equal, or nearly so,
will bring a great deal the most money
in any general market. The vast ma
jority of people are looking out for ap-
pearance, and while it is probable that
if they always took the precaution to
taste before buying, bad "red' apple
would not sell, it is fact that that they
do not taste. If the apple looks well
and tempting they buy, upon the
principal that anything that looks so
good must be good. Well, all apples
are not red" and we must do the
best we can with what we have. II We
are at all apt scholars we shall learn a
valuable lesson from what we may call
the craze for color. We shall learn to
keep up appearances to the highest pos
sible standard; and to a certain degree
the appearance of an apple indicates
its worth. That is to say, if the apple
is perfectly sound, It will be worth
more than if it is bruised. In all
markets there are more or less bruised
fruit Sometimes this is not the grow
er's fault, while in others it is. After
having grown q crop of apples, and
concluded that we will gather it, it is
the height of folly not to gather them
properly. There is no more particular
work to be done on the farm than
picking and packing fruit; and in no
department of farm work is it so nee
esSary to superintend the help. Usual
" the grower himself is careful As a
rule men are reasonably careful with
their own property, and we regret to
say as a rule men are not so careful with
other peoples property as they are
with their own. 1t therefore happens
very often that when help must be en-
ployed to gather and pack the fruit
crop. there is considerable loss from
rough handling, unless the work is
closely superintendent. Every bruised
apple is so much loss. If bruised fruit
sells at all, it is at discount, and our
fruit growers have not to be told that
they are never fortunate enough to o.
cape these losses. On the contrary
they have to bear the losses which come
from faults of their own, and generally
those which arise from the carelessness
of those to whom they consign. 1t oil
comes upon the grower.
Apples should be picked as soon as
they are fit for harvesting. To permit
them to remain ON the trees longer is to
them to the danger of dislodg- |
ment by heavy winds, and almost to |
in our eccentric n orthern eli
mate, where we are not positively Ger
tain we are safe from a snow-storm on
the Fourth of July. The manner of
picking need hardly be described, the
only thing necessary being to do it so
as to prevent bruises. A very conven-
lent way is to slip common bag, tied
with string to one upper corner and
one lower corner, over the shoulder.
1t is much handler than n basket, and
the fruit can be emptied into the barrel
if it is Immediately placed in barrels
with less liability to get bruised. 1t
IS good plan to let the apples that are
to be marketed lay in heaps awhile be-
lore barreling, that they may sweat,
md also develop any injury which any
IF them may have received in picking
md handling. The barrels in which
apples are packed should be carefully
examined to the end that everything in
tide which would wound the fruit shall
De removed. There are frequently nails
)r splinters on the inside of barrel
which will surely tear every apple with
which they come in contact. The apples
'hepid be so packed that they win be
tight in the barrel, and in Or
Ter to have them thus it will be neces-
'ary to use lever in bringing the head
o its place, after the barrel is full.
This may be made by taking plank,
md fastening a chain to one end of
t by means of staple, and fastening the
,ther end of the chain, which should be
IS long as barrel, to the end of the
ever. Set the barrel on the plank and
i'll it so the apples will come little
Ibove the level; put on the head, and
ring the lever to bear upon it, pressing
to its place. II the barrel has been
haken while being filed. this lever
process viii pack the apples very firm
Never pack anything bet the best. Re
sct every imperfect apple, whatever
b nature Of the impedection may be-
-Nestern Rsrd