Chap. 18.] MODE OF KEEPING VAEIOT7S FRUITS. 303 



keeping just like grapes, and in as many different ways; but, 

 with the exception of plums, they are the only fruit that are 

 stored in casks. 22 Apples and pears have certain vinous 23 

 properties, and like wine these drinks are forbidden to invalids by 

 the physicians. These fruits are sometimes boiled up with wine 

 and water, and so make a preserve u that is eaten with bread ; 

 a preparation which is never made of any other fruit, with the 

 exception of the quinces, known as the "cotoneum" and the 

 " strutheum." 



CHAP. 18. (16.) — THE MODE OF KEEPIXG VABIOUS FKUITS AND 



GKAPES. 



For the better preserving of fruits it is universally recom- 

 mended that the storeroom should be situate in a cool, dry 

 spot, with a well-boarded floor, and windows looking towards 

 the north ; which in fine weather ought to be kept open. Care 

 should also be taken to keep out the south wind by window 

 panes, 25 while at the same time it should be borne in mind that 

 a north-east wind will shrivel fruit and make it unsightly. Ap- 

 ples are gathered after the autumnal equinox ; but the gather- 

 ing should never begin before the sixteenth day of the moon, 

 or before the first hour of the day. Windfalls should always 

 be kept separate, and there ought to be a layer of straw, or 

 else mats or chaff, placed beneath. They should, also, be 

 placed apart from each other, in rows, so that the air may cir- 

 culate freely between them, and they may equally gain the 

 benefit of it. The Amerinian apple is the best keeper, the 

 melimelum the very worst of all. • 



(17.) Quinces ought to be stored in a place kept perfectly 

 closed, so as to exclude all draughts ; or else they should be 

 boiled in honey 26 or soaked in it. Pomegranates are made 



22 Cadis. 



23 He probably alludes here to cider and perry. See p. 300, and B. xxiii. 

 c. 62.. 



24 "Pulraentarii vicera ;" properly " a substitute for pulmentarium," which 

 was anything eaten with bread, such as meat, vegetables, &c. He alludes 

 to marmalade. The French raisine is a somewhat similar preparation 

 from pears and quinces boiled in new wine. 



25 " Specularibus." He alludes to windows of transparent stone, lapis 

 specularis, or mica ; windows of glass being probably unknown in his time. 

 The ordinary windows were merely openings closed with shutters. See B. 

 xxxvi. c. 45. 



- G He must allude to a kind of quince marmalade. 



