■182 - ORCHARDS. 



In such a cellar apple growers may safely and securely keep 

 any quantity of apples, in the best order, provided they are 

 put away at the proper time, and in good condition. The 

 expense of constructing such a house would be but trifling, 

 even less than that of an ice house ; unless it is built very 

 large, and at a place where materials are scarce. 



All apples to be kept through the Winter, should be gath- 

 ered by hand, aided by the ''fruit picker," mentioned in an- 

 other part of this work. The ground immediately under the 

 trees should be covered with straw, or any soft litter, whilst 

 gathering, as the best fruit is apt to fall. The same should 

 be done when the apples are intended for cider, as bruised 

 apples will not keep or make good cider. The gathering of 

 the Winter fruit should be delayed as long as possible to 

 secure fine flavor, but it will keep longer and better, if gath- 

 ered before quite ripe ; but there is a diff'erence in this res- 

 pect in different varieties of apples. In the climate of Vir- 

 ginia, from the middle of October to the middle or even last 

 of November, on mountain sides, and high mountain valleys is 

 the proper time. After that time there is danger from frost or 

 freezing. Those who have a good, cool dry cellar had much 

 better put away their apples as gathered, if late in the season. 

 As a oreneral thin^: in the absence of a thermometer, when 

 the ice is made half an inch thick, the barrels should be re- 

 moved very carefully^ from the shed to the cellar or fruitery. 

 It is generally admitted "that the nearer the fruit is kept 

 to the freezing point the better. It will iiot generally 

 freeze unless the temperature is 5 to 7 degrees below 32, or 

 the freezing of water." Apples headed up will bear frost 10 

 or 12 degrees below the freezing point. 



We would say farther in regard to gathering or picking 

 apples to keep, that, as a general rule, in order to secure 

 soundness and a good condition; Winter fruit should be 

 picked in dry^ cool weather^ the gathering delayed as long 

 as possible, avoiding severe frost. It should be handled with 

 care in order to prevent bruising, and should not be allowed 

 to lie in heaps exposed to the sun, or even stand in barrels ex- 

 posed to the sun, as such course is injurious to the life and 

 keeping quahties of the apples. 



