106 



look well, but it makes them tame. The wildest cow if groomed re- 

 gularly, becomes tame very quickly. 



Fruits. 



Pine-apples. — In gathering ripe Pine-apples do not cut the stems, 

 but break off each close up to the base of the fruit. 



Do not leave the fruits lying in the sun after gathering, but re- 

 move them at once to a dry, shady place. 



When carrying the fruits to market keep them dry, shade from the 

 sun and be careful not to bruise them in any way. 



Do not trim or cut off the crowns ; these add to the appearance of 

 the fruits. 



Bananas — In cutting down bananas, do not fell the trees, so that 

 bunches fall on the ground with a crash und get bruised and soiled 

 with earth ; cut the stem partly through high up, so that the bunch 

 will come down gently, and can be caught with the hands. 



Wrap each bunch carefully in soft trash and handle with great care 

 in carrying them to the depot. 



Keep them dry, and shade from the sun as much as possible. 



Unbruis d ripe bananas are worth four limes as much when they 

 get to England or America as the bruised ones. A small bruise does 

 not show when the bunch is green, but when the fingers ripen, the 

 bruised parts turn black and rots. 



Grapes. — Bunches of grap< s should be well thinned while the grapes 

 are quite small, about the size of a Gungo pea. A bunch of properly 

 thinned grapes weighs more than an unthinned bunch, and the berries 

 are bigger, finer looking and much sweeter. Unless they are thinned 

 they cannot ripen properly. 



Before cutting a bunch of grapes be sure that it is quite ripe. 

 Bunches containing a great many green, or half -ripe berries are of 

 little value. 



Line the basket or tray with plenty of nice fresh leaves from the 

 grape-vine i nd lay the bunches carefully on these. 



Do not put too many bunches in the basket or tray or they will 

 squeeze each other and spoil the berries, and never put one bunch on 

 the top of another. 



When carrying to market cover the bunches with fine muslin to 

 keep off the dust. Grapes should never be handled except by the 

 stem, and then as little as possible, and with very great care 



Citrus. Oranges and Grape Fruits should never be shaken off the 

 trees, but ^hould al'.^ays be stem cut and gathered by hand, the fruits 

 being placed in padded baskets as they are gathered. All bruised 

 fruits, or those that are injured by prickles should be rejected. 



The fruits when gathered should be removed at once to a cool, airy 

 place, ard kept quite dry. In sending to market or to t'e fruit depot 

 take every possible care not to expose the frui's to sun or rain, aiid 

 handle them more carefully than eggs, always remembering that one 

 bruised fruit will spoil many others. 



Mangoes. — Do not shake mangoes off the trees, for in falling to the 

 ground they get bruised which causes rot to set in, and bruised fruits of 

 any kind are not good. 



Gather by hand and place gently in baskets. 



