The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-12-19

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
With view to meeting the needs
of apple growers In the East, middle
West and elsewhere who have not
placed their business on the most prof
table basis. the bureau of markets has
just published Farmers Bulletin No.
1880, Preparation of Barreled APP
Piles for the Market" The apple crop
in majority Of the states is shipped
In barrels.
A large amount Of the barreled fruit
reaching the market each season Is
impaired In quality by being picked
at the wrong stage of maturity, either
too early or too late. The grower must
realize that fruit is not ready to be
picked when 1t clings to the spurs so
tightly that the spurs are pulled out
or broken. Furthermore, the color of
fruit, which eventually turns red, Is
not always reliable index the in
tenslty of the color being dependent
upon the prevailing cloudiness or
brightness of the weather. Whether
or not the red color develops normal
ly, reliable indication Of maturity is
a ground color which, when the fruit
Is ready for picking, should be turn
ing from clear green to whitish green
or greenish yellow. Yellow. green and
russell varieties of apples are generally
ready to pick when they have attained
the proper size and the stems separate
readily from the spurs. In picking ap-
pies, the stem should be. separated
from the spur either by giving the
fruit slight rotating motion COM
bined with sharp upward twist or by
exerting slight pressure with the
thumb or forefinger at the joint Of the
stem and spur just as the fruit Is
pulled. *
A variety Of picking utensils are
commented on In the bulletin, some Of
which are mentioned for special APP
prevail. In removing the crop 1t is gen.
orally advantageous to use both sacks
and baskets, as the latter are especial
" convenient for gathering fruit near
the ground, while the sacks can be
Used to advantage for ladder work, as
he pickers have both hands free. The
chief disadvantage Of sacks Is that
heir use involves greater possibility
If bruising the fruit. In emptying
either the basket or the sack, care
should be taken to avoid dropping the
fruit. If basket is used, it should
De lowered to the bottom of the lug
oox or other receptacle and inverted
gently. A certain type Of sack is con-
,tructed with drop bottom, so that
the fruit can be emptied without
cruising 1t.
Ladders Make or Mar.
Much efficiency in picking depends
IN the use Of ladders of the proper
:ype. Several varieties are in common
Use. Step-ladders are especially sat-
Isfactory for work in small trees and
n picking from the lower branches Of
larger trees. The most desirable types
ire wide and flaring at the bottom,
narrow at the top and supported with
)ut one prop. AS rule, not enough
consideration Is given to the selection
If ladders.
Where the crop is packed over Ia
5les that are moved about the orchard
the packers usually carry the fruit in
the picking utensil to the packing ia
bic. While It is common practice for
the pickers to do this, 1t should be
avoided by assigning certain members
Of the crew to this task. They should
also furnish the pickers with empty
receptacles as needed.
Use Of Sorting Tables.
Two types Of grading or sorting Ia
bles are used almost exclusively where
the fruit is graded In the orchard, and
they are used to large extent in
packing houses. These are the apron
table and the canvas or burlap table.
The apron table or a variation Of this
type Is commonly used in all sections.
The bed, which is Slated, so that trash
falls through 1t, is inclined. causing
the fruit as II Is graded to roll to the
lower end, where on opening a stop
or drop It is lowered by means of an
apron into the barrel. While work
ran be done rather rapidly with this
table, II Is not altogether satisfactory,
as the fruit frequently crowds past
The sorters and permits carelessness
on their part. The canvas or burIap
table Is made with piece of this ma
tcrial stretched over rectangular