Picking Fruits
It is possible to buy special picking containers which are, in fact, buckets. These have canvas bottoms to them which can, so to speak, be unbuttoned or unbuckled so as to let the picked fruit slide out gently into the half-bushel box.
Late-keeping cooking apples are often picked in October, though they may not be used until January or February or even later. It very much depends, therefore, on the type of apple or pear when picking should take place, and therefore I have tried to give the approximate time for picking in almost every case.
Soft fruits are usually picked commercially on a piece-work basis. The grower aims to pay 3d. or 4d. per pound, or whatever it may be, and he fixes the rate an hour or two after the commencement of picking on the first day in such a way as to ensure that the slow workers do not earn less than when paid by day rate. Thus the quick pickers get the advantage and the whole work will go with a swing.
On the other hand, one must not pick too late when the chlorophyll in the apple has been replaced by carotene and the fruit has therefore turned yellow. As the apple ripens the pips in the centre start to turn brown. Furthermore, a ripe apple can easily be picked by lifting it in the palm of the hand.
When ladders are used, great care Must be taken that the branches are not damaged as these are put into the trees. It is a good thing to bind the sides of the ladder with sacking or rubber strips so as to prevent any damage being done to the bark. Such pads do help to prevent the ladder from slipping. Three-legged picking stools are extremely convenient, especially those with a wheel in front.
They can be easily moved about from one tree to another and the fruit can be harvested without pulling down the branches dangerously or overreaching and doing damage. When picking or rather when transferring the fruit from the container to the orchard box, some sort of grading is necessary, in order to save time later.
