The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-12-17
PICKING Utensils Used.

SEPARATE readily from the spurs.
Picking Utensils Used.
Apple growers use a variety VI PICK
ing utensils. some OF which are gwen
special approval. II Is generally ad-
outrageous in removing the crop, t"
use both sacks and round ~half-buShel
baskets, as the latter are especially
convenient for gathering fruit near
the ground. while the sacks a be
used best when the picker stands up
right. In using sacks, special care
must be taken tn avoid hrn'Sing the
fruit. In emptying either the basket
or the sack, the apples must no be
dropped. If a basket is used, il should
be lowered to the bottom Of the lug box
or other receptacle and inverted gen
NY. One type of sack is constructed
with a drop bottom, 80 that the fruit
can be elnrtied without brnising.
Efficiency in picking depends con-
s,derahlv on the use Of ladders of the
proper type. Several varieties are
commonly employed. ~Step!adderS are
especially satisfactory when working
ia small trees and when picking from
cAe lower branches of larger trees.
Where the crop is packed over ia
eles tina; are moved about the orchard,
rAe fruit is usually carried In the
picking utensil to the packing table.
While his Is commonly done by the
e.ckerS, snch n practice should be
avoided Certain members Of the crew
should he assigned AS carriers and
.fey should also furnish the pickers
Nth empty receptacles.
In small orchards, when weather Is
favorable. apples are usually packed
in the open. portable equipment being
us.d; hut in large orchards and in
sections whore the weather is gen
orally unfayorahle. the fruit is often
packed in central houses, tents, or
sheds. The use of packing houses
has largely increased In recent wears,
and ia regarded rs a favorable de-
yelopment in tile apple-raiSing indus
try. These houses are 70 he found
IN both large and small orchards.
They afford shelter for the aeculnula-
Hon of unpacke,i fruit. which canr be
handled further without interruption
iue. to ~unfavorahle weather. They al
81 prevent damage 10 equipment anu
packages hecause Of rain or snow.
Where there is adequate shelter there
is a tetter opportunity for installing
sizing machinery and other labor-saN-
lna devices. In small orchards, when
rlimattr conditions are especially IA
rafahie. il MAY be advisable 10 pack
IN tlae orchards. bnt in most instances
some sort of shelter will insure bet
ter results.
Types Of Sorting Tables.
The apron table and the canvas or
hurlan sorting table are used almost
exclusively where the fruit is graded
IN thu 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
tower end, where on opening a stop
HT uTVID IL Is IOWCICu w iiCUuS Vi Oil
apron into the barrel. While work
ran be done rather rapidly with this
table 1t is not altogether satisfactory.
rs 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 a 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-