The Little River news., 1916-03-04
III. HARVESTING FRUIT.
J. s. Knox, Extension Horticulturist
 University of Arkansas.


 University of Arkansas.
 One of the most important ques- is, How can l harvest my crop Of fruit so that 1 can get the best possi- ble price for it?" The answer to the question comes in knowing when to pick and how to pick and the best methods of grading and packing, then using these methods. One can use the most up-to-date methods of growiEg 2 fruit, and may have the most perfect fruit possible and still fail to get a good prlce for the fruit if he falls down on the above factors. Putting any and every kind and grade of fruit upon the market soon causes a giut on the market, afd herein is deter mined largely the success or failure in marketing the crop.
 When to Pick: How can 1 know when my fruit is ready to pick is a question that comes to every young or inexperienced orchardist. The an swef to the above question can be found in one or more of the following ways for apples. CD By the color Of the fruit. When a fruit becomes about i!e characteristic color for that va riety it is generally, though not al ways, ready to pick. Varieties like Gano, Arkansas Black or Black Twig can be judged by color largely. CD Ease of separation of fruit from the tree. If ready to pick the fruit viii separate easily by gentle side pres sure or uplifting of the fruit. This is 8 very good method for all varieties. t3) By color of the seed. This meth od is often used for green colored va rieties-picking when the seed become real brown in oolar. (4) By flavor of the fruit. When fruit develops the flavor that is characteristic for that variety, it is ready to pick.
 With peaches the color and springl- ness of the fruit is the principal guide for picking. By taking peach in the hand and exerting gentle pressuro t ready to pick, there will be. @ @ cided springy feel. You will obse that 6 green peach is firm and dis not possess this characteristic feel. Take green peach in one hand and one that is ready to pick in the othe: and exert about the same pressure or cacn. Note the difference.
 For fruits like cherries, plums, grapes and strawberries, color is per haps the chief factor in determining g when they shall be picked.
 Pears are generally picked rather green and allowed to ripen in the shade.
 How to Pick The best method of picking depends upon the kind of fruit to be picked and that method enables one to gather the fruit with the least amount of labor and with the least bruising or rough handling is essen tially the best method. If trees are headed low and kept properly pruned, the fruit will not be so high from the ground, consequently the use of high ladders will be largely dispensed with.
 The picking receptacle should be as smooth as possible to prevent any bruising of the fruit, and if the recep- tacle has a padding or burlap or simi, lar material. it will help a great deal here. Place the fruit in the receptacle gently. Avoid all rough handling as much as possible. In picking, try to avoid the breaking off of fruit spurs.
 Grading: All fruit should be care. fully graded before packing. Here Is enc of the most essential points for the fruit grower in Arkansas to ob- serve. Too often it is the case that the baskets are carried in the or chard and filled with the fruit just as It comes from the trees. Many times this last summer in my work in the be the case. These baskets are r,.t repacked, bu. are placed in the car n that shape. There are few iian, however, who are grading their lrult and these men ara the ones who get a profit from the business. To be sure it is more expensive but the higher price received for the fruit far more than meets this extra expens2. Then, too, it is such a satisfaction to have things look attractive ant know that the buyer will be we'll pleased with his purchase.
 Packing: If you have fancy fruit put it Up in fancy package. It will pay you as it has done thousand of growers in the North -t. Appear ance sells tbc%5ands bushels of fruit evca year SC make your fruit look attractive by putting it in the standard box. These boxes must be new and clean and if they are lined with newspaper and each individual fruit is wrapped ill tissue paper it will