The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-14

thirds OF a standard box Of fruit, and
can be piled one above another as
high as person can reach without
danger OF crushing the fruit. The
rabbits hold them from slipping when
TERED up for hauling and as there is
free ventilation and no heavy mass
of fruit in any one box, they can be
stacked up in the packing house and
left until the fruit is needed with as
little danger Of injury as though they
were in Slated bins.
Field Baskets and Bags.-There IL
considerable difference Of opinion ~
to the use Of bags or baskets. The
most common form Of picking recep
tacle is the familiar canvas bag slung
across the shoulder with the mouth
opening on the left.hand side. The
objection to this Is that the fruit may
become damned or bruised through
the sack against the sides and rounds
Of the ladder or branches Of the tree.
Further. there Is always q strong
temptation to pour the fruit into the
box without removing 1t from the
shoulder. This should never be per.
mitted, a. 1t results in damage to the
fruit, which will show up when the
fruit reaches its destination. The
wicker basket has been highly recon-
mended by competent authority as oh.
Waiting the danger Of damaging fruit
while on the ladders and while empty.
ing into the field boxes, but the prin.
cipal objection to 1t Is that 1t is very
unhandy in getting around the tree
and among the branches. A new pick
ing bag or coat was tried out last
season by some upto-date growers,
and is said to have given satisfaction.
II is made OF bedticking, resembles a
picking shirt and the openings are 80
placed that the picker can throw the
fruit into the coat. There Is hook
underneath the lap Of the coat. and,
when the coat is FULL he unsnaps the
ring and pours the fruit Out Of one
side: then he unsnaps the ring on
the other side and lets the fruit out
of that side. Then he buttons 1t up
and goes back to work.
Handling OF I.adders.-The greatest
care should be exercised in handling
the ladders among the trees, as the
picker who threshes his ladder about
among the branches to secure firm
resting place, bruises more, or thorn
pricks. more fruit than his days work
is worth. Suitable ladders should be
provided and the plckers required to
handle them with care.
Field Wagons-A low spring truck
or wagon should always he used In
hauling the fruit, as high springless
wagon will do untold damage by jar.
ring the fruit in the field boxes, be.
sides the extra exertiOn Of having to
lift the boxes from a height will tell
In a days work on the man who does
the lifting into the packing house. es.
pecially il he is handling a large crop.
You will get better days work for
the low lift in the number OF boxes
that can be handled: besides there is
always the danger Of jar from the
high lift ami WEAKNESS. Fruit should
never be exposed to the strong rays
of the sun, and should always be Gov.
cred by a tarpaulin in hauling from
the grove to the packing house.
Pickers and Picking.-Good, reliable
pickers only should be used. They
should be careful men. who can be
trusted to handle the fruit carefully.
Too much stress cannot be laid upon
the proper manner OF handling the
fruits at this stage. When the fruit
Is removed from the trees, the rind is
charged with moisture, particularly
early In the season, and great care
must be exercised in handling II. The
pickers should be instructed that fruit
must not be dropped. poured from one
receptacle to another, or bruised In
any way. Slight bruises can not be
seen, but they may be there never
theless. and will eventually show up
In the form of soft. rotten spots. Any
picker who handles fruit carelessly.
and who will not mend his ways,
should be promptly dismissed. See to
It that you have competent fore
man. and see that he is always "on
the iob 4"