Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-07
RAISE " ORMY APPLES---EXPECT Loss

No set rule can be given for the time
to pick apples, as that win vary accord
ing to variety season and distance TO
be shipped. AS a rule we gauge the time
to pick red apples by their color and
yellow apples by the darkening Of their
seeds. Some varieties, for instance.
Northern Spy, are generally left quite
late in the season before picking. On
the other hand, great care must be
taken with Jonathans to pick them
before they are overripe, OF there is dam
ger from core-rot Red Astrachans. II
left on the tree, tend to crack, and so
on.
Early apples, as a rule, especially those
to be sent any distance. are harvested
before they are thoroughly ripe. Spleen
burg, and apples like them. should be
picked as soon as they have the proper
color. This means, in ordinary cases,
several piclkings to a tree, but only IN
this way can you get the best results.
Every day the fruit Is left on the tree.
after 1t has assumed its color it APP
proaches just so much nearer its final
maturity and deteriorates to a marked
degree in It's shipping and keeping quail
ties, then again, when the tree is re-
lieved of part of its load, It gives the
remaining fruit a better chance to become
large and wen colored
The apple does not go into abrupt
stages of its life history from the green
apple to the natural broken-down speci-
mems. The change is a gradual one. The
most vital point in the whole life history,
Is the picking time.
To get the best returns in the manner
of keeping, we must handle the apples
as though they were eggs, and use every
precaution not to bruise, and more es-
pecially, not to cut the skin of the apple
so as to expose 1t to the germs of the
decays that will surely enter through
any abrasion In the skin.
The apple should be picked by twist
of the wrist, giving either a slight up
ward or downward motion each time.
If picked in this way, no stems will be
pulled out In fact II the apple does not
come readily when It Is tried, II Is a
pretty good indication that the fruit is
not ready to be picked.
The best days for gathering fruit are
the cool, dry days. Picking during ex-
cessive heat, or exposing the fruit 70
heavy rains, are not conducive to good
handling. Where the fruit is picked on a
cool. dry day it is better to get II under
cover at once, but when occasion de-
mands that we pick the fruit in warm
weather, it viii be better to leave 1t out
of-doors overnight. allowing II to be-
come cool before taking 1t under cover.
using every precaution to prevent heavy
sweating Of the fruit.
The days Of piling the fruit In the
orchard in great heaps, or even leav-
ing ii in boxes or barrels for several
days are gone forever and cannot be
resorted TO by those who care to handle
choice fruit. 1t pays to wipe the fruit
before packing. If the market demands
it and is willing to pay for 1t.
Where aples are to be wiped, this
must be done soon after they are
picked, for If left very long they tend
to sweat trifle and become gummy,
making wiping a difhcult and costly pro-
cess. The apples should be stored until
packed in some cool, well ventilated
building. Houses that can be wen opened
at night and closed in the daytime,
furnish the best conditions as regards
temperature.
Never heap the fruit in immense piles
nor store In bins as such methods in
vite sweating and bruising in handling;
but preferably use field boxes. having
end cleats. so they can be piled one on
top of the other, allowing good yentiia-
ton.
1t costs money to step on ladder,