The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-11-13
PROFITS FROM THE ORCHARD.

1t is quite certain that much is yet to
be learned in orchard management to
make it uniformly profitable. If there
were any doubt on this subject an obser-
walton of the manner in which its pro-
ducts are often gathered and marketed
would be sufficient to dispel it. Many
defective apples, as well as better wind
falls, that would make excellent vinegar
if put to that use are allowed to waste
and rot. When cider is made too little
care is exercised in excluding decayed
fruit and also as to the time and manner
in which it is made, so that the article
produced is not of the best and will not
command a remunerative price.
Again, in picking the fruit from the
trees, ladders are handled so roughly, or
limbs shaken by clumsy or careless
climbers, that many of the best of the
apples are knocked off and bruised by
the fall. None but the most careful
hands should be allowed to gather the
fruit from the trees. 1t ought to be re-
membered that an apple bruised in the
basket at the picking means rotten
apple in the barrel, causing not only its
own loss, but an additional one, by in
ducing rot in others with which it comes
in contact.
A careful man ought also to do all the
barreling When full basket is re-
ceived an empty one should be handed to
the picker, and the apples be lifted by
the hands out of the basket and care
fully laid, not dropped, into their places
in the barrel. Face two rows stem
down against the head that is to be
taken out when the barrel is opened for
sale or use. The Others may be laid in
indiscrimiuately but carefully until the
barrel is full.
A gentle shaking is allowable, just
enough to better settle the fruit in place,
then the head should be pressed in by the
use of an apple press. Just how much
pressure may be applied must be left to
the Judgment of the operator, but it is
quite as likely to be too little as too much.
At this stage bruise from a pressure OF
| the head will not cause rot as it would
were the pressure not still continued upon
it, 10y which the germs of decay seem tc
be prevented from entering the bruised
spot, as they would if it were more freely
exposed to the atmosphere. Whatever
NAV be the reason, it is quite well estab
lished that pressure that prevents an.
movement of the apples when the pack
age is handled, even if it occasion
bruises to a few, is necessary to gooC
keeping when barrelled.
While selection of fair and sightl.
apples is allowable and expected for tn
head. to be shown TO the buyer, thes
should not be so much better than tn
average as to be disappointing whel
examined lower down, but all should b
merehantable and up to the standard tina
is claimed for them. In packing apple
for sale it is advised 10 make first an
second qualities, and where there is
portion of unusually large fruit even
third may be made to advantage, for un
formity in size adds much to the appear
ance More money will be obtained fc
! a crop properly graded and each sold o
} its merits than if all were packed indi
. criminately without regard TO size. ]
) general, packing in the orchard at II
, time of the picking will be found Il
I best; but circumstances alter cases
: much that no fixed rule will apply ALL
to all.-Ne,o York World.