OATnEEING AND PKESEEVATION OF FUUITS. 



GATHERING AND niESERVATION OF FRUITS. 



Tins is a subject respecting wliicli we have mucli to learn in tliis country ; and con- 

 sidering the vast amount of capital invested in fruit culture, and tlie prospective 

 importance of the business in a commercial point of view, it becomes wortliy of serious 

 and immediate attention. How many of those who are in the possession of orchards 

 and fruit-gardens know exactly when even to gather fruits in order to secure their 

 greatest possible amount of excellence ? May we not safely say that three-fourths of 

 nearly all our summer fruits are consumed in an immature state ? The keeping of 

 fruits in winter, and the packing for distant markets, are questions that concern 

 deeply the extensive orchardists of this country. AVe have translated from the Revue 

 Horticole the following observations on this subject by Prof. Dubriel, formerly of 

 Rouen and now of Paris. They contain many valuable hints and suggestions worthy 

 of attentive perusal : 



"The preservation of fruits is a question intimately connected with the fruit-garden. 

 This should furnish during the entire year the same quantity of the best possible fruits. 

 In order to do this it is true we must plant an equal number of varieties ripening their 

 fruits during each month of the year. But this will be insufficient unless we adopt 

 a mode of preservation which will retard the ripening of fruits to mid-winter, spring, 

 or even the following summer. The fruit-garden can not give the results expected 

 from it, if we are deprived of its products from February till June, when the earliest 

 fruits begin to ripen. This question, then, has a certain importance, not only for those 

 who gather and consume the fruit, but for those who deal in fruits and who without 

 proper modes of keeping are exposed to great losses. As the mode of gathering has 

 a certain influence on the preservation of fruits, we will first treat of that operation. 



I. OX GATHERING. 



"1st. Degree of Maturity. — Fruits should be gathered when they present a 

 sufficient degree of maturity ; and in this respect the different species of fruits require 

 different treatment. 



" All the Stone Fruits, the cherries excepted, should be taken from the tree three 

 or four days before their absolute maturity. 



" The Kernel Fruits of Summer and Autumn are gathered eight to twelve days 

 before maturity. 



" These fruits possess, then, the necessary elements to accomplish their maturition, 

 which is nothing more than a chemical re-action independent in some measure of vital 

 action. In thus separating them from the tree they are deprived of the sap from the 

 roots, they elaborate more completely that which is contained in their tissue, the 

 sugary principle is then less affected by water, and a higher flavor is therefore acquired. 

 The time suitable for gathering is when the side next the sun commences to change 

 from green to yellow. 



