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It is an easy matter to go out into the orchard, shake or pick the apples off the trees and throw or drop them into barrels for hauling to the town or eross roads grocery where the fruit may be exchanged for a bolt of muslin or calico, or something else needed in the house. But this is not very profitable. The progressive farmer has found that it pays to give strict attention to the sorting and packing of his crop in or der that it may bring for him a much larger amount of money. Just when to pick is one of the se crets of the trade which all orchard ists do not appreciate. The time of picking red apples is commonly guaged by their color and that of yellow ap ples by the color of the seeds. The latter is the only reliable test of ripe ness, for an apple picked .,ust as the seeds have turned a light brown, and before they become dark around the edges, will be found to have not only full flavor, but the best keeping qual ity. But red apples are often left for some time after the seeds indicate ma turity to allow them to put on more color, which they do rapidly under the influence of the bright days and frosty nights of autumn; and Indeed this is the only way of obtaining color on fruit in the shady portions of the tree. Growers should bear in mind, however, that to defer picking after the seeds indicate ripeness, invites watercore and shortens the life of the fruit in stor age, often to a serious extent with the midwinter varities. TOO LATE PICKING Much of the complaint recently lodged against the Jonathan because of rotting at the core, according to a report of the Idaho Experiment Sta tion, is believed to be attributable to late picking. Unless this trouble is cor rected the sale of this valuable var iety is sure to be hurt. The purchaser is completely deceived by the perfect appearance of the fruit, not a sign of decay being visible until it is cut open, when the flesh for some distance about the core is discovered to be brown, radiating in narrow rays to wards the skin, which, however, it sel dom reaches. It is worse than a worm hole, for that can be cut out. A box containing even a few such specimens makes the consumer distrustful of the variety, while half or more sickens even the most enthusiastiC friend of "Brother Jonathan." Few farmers are considered capable of packing their own apples, as the statement is made that, as regards SINGLE RAIL LADDER. A Very Light Form for the Orchard. seeing worm holes, their eye-sight is deficient. Where there is a fruit un ion, the Idaho bulletin suggests that a rule should be adopted forbidding any members thereof from doing their own picking, but, they should pro fit by the employment of the s;ame body of trained pickers successively at the various orchards. Even the isolated growers should endeavor to have a group of expert pickers, and employ the same ones, as far as possible, year after year. This is the way to build up a reputation that has a great cash value. PACKING IN BARRELS While the simplest method~ of pack ing apples is the oM4 barrel of the east in which the bottom and top are faced, the apples in the middle being simply poured in, this is a slovenly, not to say deceitful method, for it requires no grading expert to sort out the best ones for facing. The Western box method, on the other hand, is more desirable, especially in cases where one wishes to cater to the fancy trade. One of the pretty points about the box package is that the exact number of apples contained therein is always known, and if stamped on the box as It should be, gives information much ap preciated by the buyer. Of course this only applies where the packer adopts one partiqlar method of placing the apples in ~e box. A. prominent orchardist made the statement that it costs money to step on a ladder in an orchard. This or chard owner finds that there Is a waste of time in climbing up in order to reach the uppermost branches of the tree, so that It is considered advisable that effort should be made through pruning to start the head of the tree low and keep it low in order that the most profitable investment can be made out of the trees. It should be possible for several years to gather a (A 50) HARVESTING THE APPLE CRO GUY ELLIOTT MITCHELL. large percentage of the crop from the ground or with a very low ladder. Nevertheless you can scarcely make a dwarf tree by any amount of pruning, and in every apple orchard ladders of some kind soon become a necessity. HANDY TYPES OF LADDERS Of all the numerous styles of ladders, some form of step ladder is best adapt ed to the orchard, whether the welfare of the tree is considered or the comfort of the picker. Any ladder which must be set against the tree is a constant menace to it. Probably the best type of tall step ladders is one having three legs, two comprising the legs of the ladder proper and the third acting as its support. It is easily set up securely . ' APPLE SCENES Picking Aprons and Ladders Designed n uneven ground and the wide spread f legs at the bottom makes it especial ly stable. For work on tall trees the apanese style of ladder, in which the steps con- '-ge to a point at the top s easy to .nanipulate. Lightest of all the tall ladders Is a single rail with pegs projecting from the sides, but It is least safe and comfortable for the ser, and Is not liable to become wide ly used. Every picker has his own opinion s to the best style of receptacle in which to place the freshly picked fruits. Buckets, baskets and bags have their devotees, and some even go so far as to provide the pickers with oal scuttles. The latter, however, too strongly suggest pouring and such rough treatment is not to be though't f with apples any more so than with eggs. Where bags are used, as is com monly the case, they should be lined with burlap though this should not cause any relaxation of care in plcac ing fruit in them. Bags are open to the objection that the fruit in them is easily bruised where the bag brushes against a limb or ladder. The usual form of packing does not admit of removing the fruit except by pour ing, and this is objectionable. The bot tomless sack overcomes this difficulty as it allows the fruit to roll from the bottom when the chain is released. Such treatment might do with oranges, but with apples-never. The average picker could never withstand the temp tation to let them shoot from the bag the moment the foreman's back was turned. THE IDEAL PICKING BAG Perhaps the best picking bag is the apron bag. It is cheap, being easily made of a heavy grain sack, hangs in the most convenient position for filling and leaves both hands free. It A SUBSTANTIAL THIREE-LEGGElR. is so shallow that the first apples can be conveniently laid in it without dron ping, and yet it holds all the wearer can carry, and finally cannot be emp tied by pouring, unless the picker stands on his head. Clean boxes will help to bring better prices for apples, so that it is considered absolutely es sential that the pneker should use only boxes that are freshly made up of material that is white and clean. No man who takes pride in his business ---- (A fruit in old or soiled boxes. When these are hauled to market they should always be covered with a tarpaulin to keep off rain or dust. If box material is carried over from one year to an other it should be carefully housed and covered to keep it clean and bright. HONESTY TIIE BEST POLICY Two essentials of a perfect packing of apples are honesty a'nd uniformity -that is the apples in the middle or bottom of the pack, whether it be a box or barrel, should be just as good as those on top and all perfect; all of an even size and properly colored and every package packed with the same degree of care and skill, so that the buyer may feel certain that it is not IN IDAHO. by the Idaho Experiment StaIxi. a. case of sight unseen. Attractive labels add much to the appearance of the boxes, and are a valuable means of advertising and building up a spe cial trade. Whether labelled or not, however, the box should be marked on the end with the name of the variety and number of apples contained, and the grade, especially if the latter is anything but firsts. HlE SECURED TOP PRICES That careful packing is as essential as good fruit may be gathered from a - SCENE IN AN IDAHi Dra'wn from a Photograph in Bull story of a potato grower in Colorado a few years ago, when the crop of potatoes in the east was immense Colorado had, as usual, raised many thousands of sacks, but found the price so low that it scarcely covered the freight charges. In the emergexscy "The Man of the Hour" appeared in the person of a grower who washed his potatoes carefully, put them up in neat 10-pound sacks with attractive labels and sent them on to Chicago. A very fancy price was asked, but the potatoes went off with a rush and netted the grower the highest returns he had ever received. Cases similar to this are'known to most farmers. Very often the manner in which fruit and vegetables are put up has more influence on the price than quality it self. Barnyard Manure. For garden crops there is no ferti lizer that will compare with good. well rotted barnyard manure. In localities where a supply of such manure can not he secured it will be necessary to depend upon commercial fertilizers. hui the results are rarely so satis factory. In selecting manure for the arden. care should be taken that it does not contain any element that will be injurious to the soil. An excess of snwdust or shavings used as bedding will have a tendency to produce sour ness in the soil. Chicken. pigeon. and sheep manures rank nigh as fertilizers, their value being somewhat greater than ordinary barnyard manures, and almost as great as some of the lower grades of commercial fertilizers. The manure from fowls is especially adapted for dropping in the hills or mrow of plants. IMPROVEMENTS I THE SCHOOL HOUSE WITH NO ECONOMIC Government Bureau of Forestry HaE f ree Bulletin on School and Home T Thousands of school houses entirely lack the simple surroundings tnat would insure beauty and contentment. We mean by this not a paucity in archi tectural design, but in the simple mat ter of beautification through planting, which, in many cases, can be attained by arousing the interest of the scholars themselves. Some city schools have no space for planting at all, although some contain a good arrangement of flower beds and shade trees. In the towns and villages, also, it is possible to point out many examples showing great care and attention. It is in the country, however, that the improved school ground is rarely found. The ideal school ground, which should really be as much a part of the building itself, and where the pu pils can be shown the wonderful oper ations of nature, serves two distinct purposes. First, it becomes a technical labora tory, where the intelligent teacher can point out the marvelous chemical chan ges which occur with each appearance of the seasons-the starting of plant life, with the warm days of spring, the fuller growth of summer with its blos soms and, fruit and the matured wood growth, when the leaves drop in the fall-a cycle in the plant's history and Second, the influence that such study has upon the growing mind. With a reasonable amount of this sort of edu cation, coupled with the three R's, the child will never develop the tendency to rip to pieces the shrubbery of his own home or dig out and trample un der foot the young plants in thegarden. Furthermore, he will likely take his school garden for his ideal, and use his influence to make the home yard its equal in appearance, if not its superior. The object, too, of school yard plant ing is strictly utilitarian. School house, some of them splendid brick structures as well as sod house build ings, can be found which are absolute ly devoid of tree or shrub planting. Both the winter winds and the summer heat operate upon them with un checked violence. Why not plant trees and inaugurate the assistance of the pupils in so doing, which will not only act as wind breaks, but afford shade? In connection with this subject the Bureau of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture has issued a Farmer's Bulletin (No. 134) on Tree Planting for Rural School Gardens. This can be obtained without cost, by writing either Gifford Pinchot, Forester, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washing ton, D. C., or to your U. S. senator or member of Congress. It contains much information which is useful and out lines several practical plans for not only the beautification of barren school grounds but for a primary study of forestry-tree planting and tree growth. USE AND INFLUENCE OF TREES. What a tremendous influence for good in every town, .it would be, if every school boy and school girl should become interested in tree planting and shrub planting. Arbor Day has become a great institution. Its observance has resulted in the planting of millions of trees every spring. Suppose that it were universal, and that every child in every town should become as enthu siastic over the planting of a tree each year, and watching and attending to it, as he is over the observance of the )APPLE ORCHARD. tin of Idaho Experiment Statlog. Fourth of July, what a wonderful change, in a few years, would result in the appearance of most of our towns and villages. Much can be done in the school to ward making tree planting a success with the children. It is not enough that when Arbor Day rolls around a tree~ should be planted by each juve nile member of the family. Unless the yongsters realize that considerable care is required the first year or two, the trees will die, and unless they have been taught how to care for their trees, dead and dying specimens-failures will distress and discourage the youth ful mind, possibly beyond redemption. .rut with reasonable attention the poor est and the rockiest soils can be made to produce good trees. A SCHOOL TREE NURSERY. Certainly there could be nothing more fascinating than the starting of a tree nursery, of several good varieties, in each school ground. These nurser ies could be started from the actual seed, acorns, beech nuts, hickory nuts. chestnuts, seeds from fir cones, and the seeds of other trees thriving in the locality, and all these could be gathered by the children, and brought in and planted by them. Then after they had reached the proper age for transplanting, say two years, the class would, In an afternoon, visit a dozen homes, and participate in the trans planting of the seedlings, into their permanent locations. There is an in herent love for such things in the American youth. It Is a wonderful thing, when you think about It, to take a bit of a seed, put it in moist soil, see it sprout, and then watch It thro'ugh the progress of years come N THE VILAGE. TREES AND NO PLANTS IS AN MISTAKE. Issued an Attractive, Illustrated ree P4anting. sturdy sapling, and finally become a great tree, leaving forth each year and affording shade and comfort for the occupants of the home. If the young mind grows up among such scenes and amid such environment, it will prove a mighty factor in the material prosperity of the cor-munity. THE COUNTRY HOME. Lecturer Advocates Small Indepen dent Homes, Each on a Acre of -- Land An address on "The Significance of the Country Home" was delivered by Edward H. Chandler, secretary of the Twentieth Century Club at the recent graduating exercises of the School of Domestic Science of the Boston Young Women's Christian Association. In ad vocating a deliberate system of train ing Lature study by means of school gardens, he said: Most important of all is the beginning of a national move ment for the making of "home crofts" or small independent homes with perhaps an acre to enable eacna family to find out the true values of rural life. It would be an absurd er ror to suppose that such homes are now lacking. There are multitudes through out the land. What is new is that these homes are coming at last to their own. Instead of continuing to be "e insig nificant haunts of one's childhood, of which one who has risen to distinction is expected to be a little ashamed, they are being sought out as typical of the best in home life and as models to be reproduced ili essentials with some adaptations to the new needs of the times. FLOWERS AND BIRDS. To grow up, Mr. Chandler said, with the flowers and shrubs and trees and to learn to care for the birds, squir rels, rabbits and domestic animals is a training whose influence on character can never be over-estimated. An acre of ground is enough for Nature's pur poses if he who lives on it wishes to be her pupil and helper. The country home makes possible the simplicity of living and fosters true democracy. It is both noteworthy and somewhat pa thetic that hosts of city dwellers should rush to welcome and listen to the pro phet of the simple life who came to us from France. Yet he had no other message than that of the country home. Live among the real things of life in contact with elementary forces. Live above conventionality. Learn to be simple in your tastes and straight forward in your motives. Be a good neighbor and a true friend. This is the life which the country home fos ters. There you may not have so much money to handle, but you do not need it. Ostentatious display kills the spirit of such a home. Democracy is talked of In the city but it is felt in the coun try. A town meeting is the highest type of democracy yet attained. There is a common interest which binds all country dwellers together. But who are so far separated and indifferent to each others' needs as the various ten ants of a city tenement or apartment liouse? THE STRENGTH OF NATIONS. Not all who live in the country realize its significance. Here and there is a decadentshome and a degenerate lamily. But 'all over the world the strength of nations is found among those who have been fostered near to zature and have become free beings by working together in honest labor. I'his is a home ideal to be placed among the highest. There is little :langer of its over emphasis. No mat ter what one's work or how heavily the burden of the city presses the- de ermination to live on the home acre in the country may easily become al most the most powerful influence in miaking a successful life!" Parking for the Town. The town parks, or the town or village square are the lungs of its citizens. If the town is growing. it is none too soon to start a movement to provide for the securing of ample town park ing. The land is increasing; when the town has doubled and has become a small city, it will not be so easy to secure sites, readily accessible to the people, without paying an exorbitant price. Secure first the land; it is not Important that a large amount of money should be, at once expended upon its beautification, possibly it needs but little, since nature may have made it more beautiful than can man. It is not necessary that it should be transformed into carpet beds of flowers and trimly kept lawns. If It affords sunlight and a green relief of grass and trees for the eye. it becomes a civilizer and an equalizer, for the poor as well as the wealthy, a resting place where a man may forget, for the time, some of his struggles and his anxieties in a contemplation of what God has made. The park should be kept, In fact, as natural as is consistent with its use as such. It is never too early, however, to secure its site, with a view to the building up of the community, when land values will necessarily Increase. Distribution of immigrants the Solution. If there were only some practicable way of dIstributing immigration more equally among all the ports of the country the congestion and segra gation phases of this problem would be nearer solution. It can be accom plished In but a small degree, since it will only be done if answering an economic demand, as in the case of the Galveston-Bremen service. Wise and well organized effort to Induce immigrants to pass through the large ports by finding and insuring them employment in the interior and by in 'orming them of opportunities else where, wIll do much to Improve con :ltions. The self-Interest of states, many of which maintain immigration igencies. might also be brought more :enerally into play to attract the in lustrious and ambitious new comers :o their farms and -smaller towns. Improving School Grounds. In Rochester, N. Y., the school authorities grade and sod the school yards. while the shrubbery and other planting is by private effort in con junction with the school children. Ample land is furnished for decorative playground purposes, and most exemp lary results have been obtained. lmp Poor Chance in the Cities. Life in a metropolis makes young children sharp, but not clever; it often destroys their chance of ever being clever, for it hastens the development of the brain unnaturally; it makes them superficial, alert, but not observ ant; excitable, but without one spark of enthusiasm: they are apt to grow blase, fickle, discontented; they see more things than the country-bred child, but not such interesting things; and they do not properly see any thing, for they have neither the time nor capacity to get at the root of all the bewildering objects that crowQ1 themselves into their little lives. JOB OFFICE WANTED. I WANT TO LEASE-A good job or newspo pr oface in live town of 15W or over. I will pay montly rental (in advance each month), until January I, '07. when substantial payment will be made. Ad dress A. I. Boreman-Colo. Iowa. STENOGRAPHERS : Bright young men who crn take dictation rapidly and do rapid work (i1 machine. Salary f97 to start. Write to-day: Offics - In 12 cities. BAPGOODS, Suite 143, 305.-09 Brosa way, N. Y. WANTED: A Hundred Firemen and Brakemcren c different railroads. Age 20 to 3U good sigiht i i d hearing. Experience unnecessary. Firenan 1N month. become Engineers and earn$. hnic men $7 monthly, become Conductors and earn lI0. Positions awaiting competent men. Send itamrs fcr. particalat.,. Name , tn preferred. Railvt y Association, Room 227 Monroe street,-Brockly N. Y. SHIRT WAIST HOLDER EXTRAOrDINP. T keepswamt down air around: ro pins or tcql: f.> tear: send 25t. with waist measurement over < %:, t and ask for white or black. Felix 'crmet cc. i.3 Pine Street New York. Big ProfitsIn Capons Caponizing Is easy-soon learned. Complete outfit with free instructions postpaid $2.50. 4Ci Gape Worm Extractor 25c 00 Poultry Marker.......25c French Killing Knife500 TO L Capon Book Free. 0. P. PILLING & SON. 2312 Arch St.. PHu. Pa' FREC LES REMOVED We ena wirel amOres b@~uwr ni na Th -9 a steng Meri. but W11 -1- rfud year asmey If not Ptredr thies amalleat. at. Dt.llm Fr"10. C. Ip BOY9 + If Yos E C \ f-ant the /"asebal Outfit Here's Your * Chance WITE TO-DAY This outft consists of PAETS made of strong regula tion cloth, with waist strar s. well padded. remnforced; buttons will stay on. SHIET of same material, regu lation make throughout aaed full around shoulders. BELT is made of special material and fitted withi fancy nickel and japanned buckles that will not rust, r'he CAP is regulation make and matches the outfit in quality and make. We also give an outfit consistine or MASK, FIELDER'S and BASEMAW'S GLOVE. CATCHER'S MITT, and Regulation BOYS' BASEBA LL. sent free to any boy selling 321i andkerchieis at 10c. each. We send the hsndket chiefs fre e f expense to you, to aA for when sold. WOOD WOOD 00.2 " A%,3WT"I Wherever anywhere in this country there is Any One who has the Spirit of True Patriotism "- and Genuine Love of Humanity .in his or her heart. "The Coming People" By CHARLES F. DOLE should be the first book to be read There is a multitude of thinking people who see the dangers the future holds for our country unless we reach a wise solution of the tremendous social problems that confront us. The spirit in which wc should approach the consideration of these problems is set forth in this remarkable book in a wny that must be an inspiration to every truly hu mane and patriotic heart. Let the spirit of common sense and opti mism and fundamental economic and phil osophical truth that pervades this book be taken as the underlying motive of the movement, and the Creed and Platform of the Homecrofters as the practical plan to work to, and the rest of the great social questions are certain to be rightly solved by application to them of the sound and humane principles that will guide the action of our people upon all great national ques tions. One copy of "The Coming People" post age prepaid will be mailed to any ad dress in the United States for twenty-five cents. One copy of both "The Coming People" and "The First Book of the Homecrofters" and "Maxwell's Talisman" monthly for the rest of the year 19i06 will be mailed to any address in the United States f:>r fifty cents. Remit in postage stamps tc The Home