Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1876 — The Correct Way TO Pluck Apples and Pears. [ARTICLE]

The Correct Way TO Pluck Apples and Pears.

To plupk fruit ox any sort signifies to take hold of it by tlie hand and sever the stem from the twigs. If any one will examine tne stem of an/ipple Jie will perceive that thene is a seam between the end of the stem ana the twig. At this season the stem should be. severed from the twig. Hence sAb stem should be clasped by the thumb and one finger in such a manner that tlie stein and twig will separate at the seam. Many ' apples and certain varieties of pears adhere s<s firmly to the twigs that iL'ons takes hold ■of the fript anff pulls tfye stmiirip be draw’ll out of tlie cavity of the Spple or the twig will be broken off. Many times when apples are hard to pluck a long piece of twig and several fruit buds will be torn off the limb. Beginners should be taught, when fruit will not separate easily from the twigs, to seize the stem and thrust the thumb nail against the stem close to the seam, at the same time bending the stem across the edge of the nail. When the stem is handled in this manner the twig amfttem will always separate at the seam. If the stem is drawn out of the fruit, as it often will be wheji fruit comes off hard, premature decay' is liable to commence in the cavity of the apple. Another reason why the stem should be severed at the seam is, the fruit buds, from which the fruit for the next season will grow, should be left on the trees, or there can be no fruit. When an ignorant and heedless helper clambers about in the tree tops, crushing the buas and twigs beneath his huge feet, and when he breaks off numerous twigs and ends of fruit branches and thrashes the outside of the tops with a pole, he will often destroy buds sufficient to make a bushel of apples. Let the unsophisticated be taught that if they destroy the fruit buds the present autumn they will ruin tlie crop of fruit for next year. The next thing of prime importance is to handle valuable fruit witii as much carefulness as one transfers eggs from one basket to another. When an apple drops into - a barrel, or falls on other fruit, or encounters the limb of a tree in its descent, it will be bruised more or less. Bruises will sometime dry up, but as a general rule bruiges will promote speedy decay. Hence, apples should never be poured from one basket to another, nor from a basket into a barrel or box. When plucking fruit it is often the practice to hang a grain-bag about one’s neck, or across the shoulder, with the mouth before the operator, who puts the apples into the bag as fast as the fruit is plucked. But a bag is the most improper receptacle that can be employed for holding fruit of any sort, for the reason that when the bag of fruit is moved about a large portion of it will be bruised more or W .Let th,A incTOdulogs fill > bag with apples or pears and then lift the Bag or fruit into • wagon box and take it out again and carry it to the fruit room. He win hear the fruit creak and bruise by being pressed one against another. A basket, pail or tub is the only proper re-

O Vs; captack for holding valuable fruit When it tri- desirable that it should not 'be bruised. R '-ji « When plucking large pears we employ a grape-plucker. which consists of a combined shears ana pliers. The instrument is taken h one hand as if it were a pair of ehears. Th® stem of the fruit isttien cut with the small blade secured to the end of one of the jaws;-and as the stem is cut in two the Jaws of the pliers close on the stem and hold the pear, apple, or bunch of grapes. It is a capital little device for plucking fruit. Buch pluckers can ( be obtained at hardware stores in largo cities.— N. Y. Herald.