PLATE XII. Pickers at Work, Orchard of Hooker Brown, Hancock Co.. W. Va. (Note La Iders and Picking Sacks used ) of this sort demonstrates itself then there is a decided advantage in the level land for the orchard, so far as the ease and comfort with which the regular work of cultivation and harvesting can be carried on. The low ground forces the tree more rapidly during the years immediately following planting, causing a rank growth of wood and foliage, but at the same time somewhat retards the period at which the tree commences bearing. It is also evident that trees on the sandy bottom lands require more fertilizing than those grown on the higher and more retentive soil. As a general rule, too, trees growing on the more elevated areas, while somewhat more liable to injury from late spring frosts, at the same time possess a greater im munity from frost than trees in shallow runs, or at the head of hollows or draws where the aerial drainage is less complete. All lands situated in the river valley or upon the slopes bounding it, possess almost complete air drainage. Distance to Plant Trees. In general, not enough space is given an apple tree. Growers imagine that trees standing 30 to 32 feet apart each way are given ample space. This is true for the first 18 or 20 years, but after that the low branches will interfere with spraying and harvesting, and the whole planta tion is rendered too dark and damp to allow of the highest development of color and flavor. Not less than 40 feet each way should be allowed for the full development of the trees and convenient space for working. Care of the Fruit The care of the fruit is the most expensive matter connected with the apple industry. A large force of skilled pickers is required, for the growers desire to let the fruit remain as long upon the trees as it can be safely allowed to and yet escape freezing. The longer the fruit remains upon the trees during the cool nights and bright sunny days of Octo ber, the more highly the color and flavor becomes doveloped, and the greater the size of the fruit. A force of pickers in one of the large orchards of Hancock county is shown in Plates XI and XII. The men are distributed so that there are two or three to a tree. They are required to pick the fruit clean from the tree and to deliver it to the packers free from leaves and twigs. The usual custom is to pay the pickers not by the day, but by the barrel. The price varies, according to the character of the work and the privilege given the workmen, from 6 to 8 cents per barrel. Thirty barrels a day is considered a day's work, although an expert can, under favorable circumstances, gather 70 to 80 barrels in a day. The fruit is seldom sorted as it is taken from the tree, unless it be of an early variety which is designed for immediate shipment. The fruit as it is picked from the tree is placed in sacks with a hoop in the mouth and a webbing strap to pass over the shoulder to suspend it, as is shown in the engraving. From these sacks the fruit is carefully emptied into barrels which are beaded before being removed from the orchard. The pickers in the group shown in Plate XI picked fast enough to keep two men constantly engaged in heading, and three teams busy drawing the barrels to and from the store house, about one-half mile distant. The fruit house upon this place is shown in Plate XIII. It has a capacity for about 10,000 barrels; has two cold chambers in the basement and an ice chest of large capacity in the second story. With such provisions fruit is successfully kept in store until the April or May succeeding picking. Fruit has been preserved in good order in such houses for two years, and Maiden's Blush apples have been kept nearly a year. Good keeping qualities characterize the apples grown in this region. The fruit itself is of high quality, free from wounds, from in sects, or defacements by fungi. This, together with careful handling, insures good keeping qualities when proper attention to storing is given. In this respect the practices are somewhat at variance. Some maintain that a frost proof building is preferable to a cold storage room where ice or artificial cold is used. Fruit from the frost proof houses is said to stand longer when placed upon the market. Where ice or other artificial cold is used the chambers are sometimes allowed to become abnormally dry, and as a result the apples shrin', occasionally as much as a peck per barrel. Under such conditions heavy loss is incurred, not only from the loss in weight and bulk, but |