The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-08-19


than frequently is the case in regions
where the crop is barreled will permit
the growers to realize a greater re-
turn for their labor, will reduce the
waste that comes in careless han
ding and will bring better pro-
duct to the consumer, according TO
recommendations Of the United States
department Of agriculture. The apples
grown in a great majority Of the
states are shipped In barrels
A large amount Of barreled fruit
reaching the market each season Is
seriously impaired in quality by being
picked at the wrong stage OF maturity,
either too early or too late The grow
er must realize that fruit is not ready
to be picked WREN 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 a reliable index, De
cause of differences In prevailing
weather in different seasons. Wheth-
er or not the red color develops nor
maIIy, a reliable indication Of maturity
Is a ground color which, when the
fruit is ready for picking, should be
turning from clear green TO whitfsh
or greenish yellow. Yellow, green,
and russell varieties Of apples are gen
orally ready to pick when they have
attained the proper size and the stems
separate readily from the spurs.
Picking Utensils Used.
Ample growers use a variety of pick
ing utensils, some of which are given
sneciaI approval. 1t is generally ad-
vantageous in removing the crop, to
use both sacks and round half-bushel
baskets. as the latter are especially
convenient for gathering fruit near
the ground, while the sacks can be
used best when the picker stands up
right. In using sacks, special care
must be taken to avoid bruising the
fruit. In emptying either the basket
or the sack. the apples must not be
dropped. If a basket is used. it should
be lowered to the bottom of the lug box
or other receptacle and inverted gen
tIy. One type of sack is constructed
with a drop bottom, so that the fruit
can be emptied without bruising-
Efficiency in picking depends con-
siderably on the use of ladders of the
proper type. Several varieties are
commonly employed. StepIadders are
especially satisfactory when working
in small trees and when picking from
the lower branches of larger trees
Where the crop Is packed over ia
bles that are moved about the orchard,
the fruit is usually carried in the
picking utensiI TO the packing table.
While this is commonly, done by the
pickers, such a practice should be
avoided Certain members of the crew
should be assigned as carriers and
they should also furnish the pickers
with empty receptacles.
lii small orchards, when weather is
favorable, apples are usually packed
In the open, portable equipment being
used; but in large orchards and in
sections where the weather is gen
orally unfavorable, the fruit is often
packed in central houses. tents, or
sheds. The use of packing houses
has largely increased in recent years,
and Is regarded as q favorable de
velopment In the apple-raiSing indus
try. These houses are to be found
in both large and small orchards
They afford shelter for the accumula-
ton of unpacked fruit, which can be
handled further without interruption
due to unfavorable weather. They al
so prevent damage to equipment and
packages because of rain or snow.
Where there. is adequate shelter there
is q better opportunity for installing
sizing machinery and other labOr-sav-
Ing devices. In small orchards. when
climatic conditions are especially IA
vorable, It may be advisable to pack
in the orchards, but in most instances
some sort of shelter will insure bet
ter results.
Types of Sorting Tables.
The apron table and the canvas or
burlap sorting table are used almost
exclusively where the fruit is graded
in the orchard and they are also used
to a large extent in packing houses.
The apron table, or a variation Of this
type, is commonly employed and has
a bed which is Slated so that the
trash falls through. Being inclined,
the fruit as it is graded rolls TO the
lower end, where on opening a stop
or drop it is lowered by means of an
apron into the barrel. While work
can be done rather rapidly with this
table it is not altogether satisfactory,
as the fruit frequently crowds past the
sOrterS, encouraging careleSsness. The
second type of grading table is made
with a piece Of canvas or burlap
stretched over rectangular frame.
and is not fitted for running the fruit
from the apron into the barrel. The
apples must be sorted by hand into
baskets in which they are lowered in
to barrels.
Sizing Machines Much Used.
At present sizing machines are be-
ing used quite extensively for barrel
packing in all sections to meet the de-