Chap. 18.] MODE OF KEEPING VARIOUS FRUITS. 305 



a large vessel which has just been pitched, care being taken to 

 close all access to the south wind, by covering the lid with a 

 coat of plaster. The same method, they say, should be adopted 

 for keeping sorb apples and pears, the stalks being carefully 

 covered with pitch ; care should be taken, too, that the ves- 

 sels are kept at a distance from water. 



There are some persons who adopt the following method for 

 preserving grapes. They take them off together with the 

 branch, and place them, while still upon it, in a layer of 

 plaster, 32 taking care to fasten either end of the branch in a 

 bulb of squill. 33 Others, again, go so far as to place them 

 within vessels containing wine, taking care, however, that the 

 grapes, as they hang, do not touch it. Some persons put 

 apples in plates of earth, and then leave them to float in wine, 

 a method by which it is thought that a vinous flavour is im- 

 parted to them : while some think it a better plan to preserve all 

 these kinds of fruit in millet. Most people, however, content 

 themselves with first digging a hole in the ground, a couple of 

 feet in depth ; a layer of sand is then placed at the bottom, 

 and the fruit is arranged upon it, and covered with an earthen 

 lid, over which the earth is thrown. Some persons again even 

 go so far as to give their grapes a coating of potters' chalk, and 

 then hang them up when dried in the sun ; when required for 

 use, the chalk is removed with water. 34 Apples are also pre- 

 served in a similar manner ; but with them wine is employed 

 for getting off the chalk. Indeed, we find a very similar plan 

 pursued with apples of the finest quality ; they have a coating- 

 laid upon them of either plaster or wax ; but they are apt, if 

 not quite ripe when this was done, by the increase in their 

 size to break their casing." 4 * When apples are thus prepared, 

 they are always laid with the stalk downwards. 35 Some 

 persons pluck the apple together with the branch, the ends of 

 which they thrust into the pith of elder, 35 * and then bury it in 



32 A method not unlikely to spoil the grape, from the difficulty of re- 

 moving the coat thus given to it. 



33 A very absurd notion, as Fee observes. To keep fruit in millet is 

 also condemned. 



34 Which, of course, must deteriorate the flavour of the grape. 

 3i * It is doubtful if they will increase in size, when once plucked. 



35 The modern authorities recommend the precisely opposite plan. 

 354 As absurd as the use of the bulb of squill. 



TOL. III. X 



