Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-27


on and IL goes into the Gull pile.
We hitch 20 a low wheeled wagon
and set p boxes on the platform. We
then go 20 the field with a wagon and
pickers and put tho team midway be-
tween two rows OF trees. Our force
consists of from eight 90 u pickers
and a foreman. The foreman's bust
ness is 20 keep the wagon mp even
with the pickers. to see that the pick
ers do not get too far away from the
wagon or DO not get huddled up so as
10 interfere with each other. 20 see
that they pick the apples clean and
TO keep the time OF the men.
When the picker fills his sack which
is shown I'm the cut. he goes to the
wagon. raises the bottom OF the sack
little and rests Il into the box. un-
hooks flap on the bottom and the
apples roll out into the box Enough
ladders are taken along 20 pick the
apples above reach from the ground.
The loaded wagon is driven 20 the
packing house and the boxes are set
upon platforms alongside.
Sometimes when parts OF our or
chards are too far from the packing
1870 w lieAh IVA iAAt MtAA- We take
two planks 2xS inches by l6 feet. One
end OF each Of these planks is cut
slipping. and they are raised for run
ners. We set them on edge. six feet
apart and nail cross pieces every two
feet and then lay common fencing
boards lengthwise on this sled. On
this we set our sorting table length
wise on the front end Hitch a team to
the sled drive 20 the field and do our
packing the same as In the packing
house.
II the trees are very full the sled
can be drawn along between two rows
and the pickers can empty their sacks
directly onto the sorting table. Some
of our neighbors use this sled and
prefer IL TO the packing house
Our sorting table. says the CORE
spondent OF Farm and Home. Is eight
feet long by three or four feet wide.
The back end being eight inches high
er than the front which should be 80
Inches high. The bottom is made OF
half-round strips with a space OF one
inch between 10 let the leaves and
trash through. On the sides six-inch
boards are nailed 20 hold the apples.
In the upper end three-inch strip is
nailed.
The apples are poured on the upper
end and two sorters on each side do
the work. The second and third
grades are sorted out while spread
upon the table and carried away.
These are nearly always sold in bulk
and so are put In piles or loaded d.
rectly into the ears which stand on
the side track by the packing house.
The first grade apples are rolled on
down 10 the lower end of the table and
into the barrel or box. The first
grade consists Of all sound fruis
above pa inches in diameter. If this
first grade is fancy or a little disposed
TO be soft. we pack them In boxes.
but IL they are good, solid winter va
rieties we generally pack in barrels.
Our boxes are lSA inches long, and
1l15 inches square. inside measure
ment- The ends are q inch thick and
the sides, bottom and top, q inch
stun. This box holds about one bushel.
We place a layer of fair sized ap-
pies, uniform in size and color with
the stem ends down. Then fill I'D the
box. shake down well. level up the top
so that the apples are from u to n
inch above the top OF the box. put on
the top and with press force II down
and nail each end, then nail on a cleat
at each end. We then turn the face
side up and with rubber stamp mark
the name of the variety and our
brand. The box is then ready to shin.