GATHERING AND PEESERVATION OP FRUITS. 



" The Cherries, Gooseberries, and Raspberries, are only gathered after their perfect 

 maturity ; but they should not be allowed to pass this moment, as they immediately 

 lose some of their qualities. 



" The Kernel Fruits xohich ri2)en only in Winter are gathered when they have 

 accomplished their full development and before vegetation has completely ceased — 

 that is to say, from the end of September to the end of October, according to the 

 variety, the earliness of the season, and climate. Experience has demonstrated that 

 fruits left on the trees after their growth do not keep so well ; they lose their sugar 

 and perfume, because at this time the temperature is ordinarily too low for the new 

 fluids which arrive in their tissue to be sufficiently elaborated. If, on the contrary, 

 this epoch be anticipated, the fruits wither and do not attain maturity. It is equally 

 necessary to gather the fruits from the same tree at different times — first, those 

 placed on the lower parts of the tree ; then, eight or ten days after, those on the 

 upper part, of which the growth is prolonged by the influence of the sap, which 

 remains longer in this part of the tree. For the same reason the fruits of standard 

 trees in the open ground are gathered later than those of espalier, and those of aged 

 or languishing trees before those of young and vigorous ones. The precise moment 

 for the gathering of each fruit is indicated by the facility with which it is detached 

 from the tree when slightly lifted upwards. 



"Various instruments under the name of ^ Fruit Gatherers'' have been invented to 

 detach the fruits at the tops of the trees without the aid of ladders ; but their employ- 

 ment is too slow, and the fruits are more or less bruised and do not keep. When 

 the fruits are gathered they are de- 

 posited in a basket similar to that 

 used by the cultivators of Montreuil, 

 fig. 1. It is about two feet long, 

 eighteen inches wide, and a foot deep, 

 with a carpet on the bottom. The 

 fruits are laid in one by one, and only 

 in three rows or tiers ; when too 

 many are laid on the top of each 



other, the bottom ones are bruised. Each tier is separated by a quantity of leaves. 

 If they are peaches, each one is enveloped in a leaf of the vine. The basket, being 

 sufficiently full, is carried on the head into a spacious and airy place, where the fruits 

 are deposited on leaves or dry moss ; the table of the fruit-room can serve this pur- 

 pose. There the summer and autumn fruits achieve their maturity, and are taken 

 thence to be consumed. The peaches should be cleaned of the down which covers 

 them, and which is disagreeable to the mouth. 



" Gra2oes, for immediate consumption or to be preserved fresh, are gathered only at 

 perfect maturity ; the longer they are left on the vine, the more the sugary principle 

 will be developed. Grapes from contre-espaliers are to be preferred for keeping to 



from espaliers, as experience has demonstrated to the cultivators of Thomery 1^ 

 they keep better. 



