KEEPING APPLES. 437 



KEEPING APPLES. 



CLARENCE WEDGE, ALBERT LEA. 



(Read before the Southern Minnesota Horticultural Society.) 



Now that we have learned that by planting' varieties adapted to 

 our climate and giving them treatment that shields them from the 

 peculiar hardships which they are obliged to undergo, we can 

 raise an abundant supply of apples, the next question that interests 

 us is how can we make the most economical use of the fruit we have 

 learned to grow. Nearly all the varieties our state society is thus 

 far willing to recommend are fall and early winter sorts. The only 

 really hardy all winter keeper outside the trial list is the Malinda, 

 and that is handicapped with two important failings : first, it is an 

 extremely tardy bearer, and, second, it is of only secondary hardi- 

 ness, a very bad combination for this climate. If our orchards are 

 like most of those already fruiting, bearing only the fall varieties, 

 like the Duchess, we still do not need to be without home grown 

 apples for a good share of the year if we live near a town where 

 there is a cold storage plant; for we find that if the fruit is picked 

 with great care just as soon as ripe and placed in cold storage with- 

 out any bruises or rough handling it will keep until after midwin- 

 ter in perfect condition. Indeed the Duchess makes a far more pal- 

 atable eating apple when kept in this manner than it is when freshly 

 picked from the tree. We find also that a barrel of Duchess taken 

 from cold storage in January will keep without decay for several 

 weeks in an ordinary cool house cellar. We have paid fifteen eents 

 per barrel per month for the small quantities we have had so stored, 

 and considering the poor quality and high price of the apples 

 usually found on our markets we have generally found it an econ- 

 omical venture. But our people are now beginning to have quite a 

 little surplus of the Wealthy, and are likely to soon have still larger' 

 quantities of the Hibernal and Longfield, varieties that in our lati- 

 tude may with proper treatment be kept until February, but with 

 careless and ignorant handling may be half spoiled in a month 

 after gathering. None of these rich, mellow fleshed varieties will 

 keep until cold weather if allowed to drop to the ground before 

 picking. The same care should be taken in handling as with the 

 summer fruit, and all wormy or diseased apples rejected. After the 

 apples have been properly picked, the common mistake is made of 

 placing them immediately in the cellar, which at this time of year 

 is the worst possible place. A clean, cool shed or outhouse is the 

 best place for them to remain until there is danger of freezing 

 weather, when they may be removed to the cellar for the winter. It 

 is probably best to allow the boxes or barrels to remain open for a 

 few days after placing in the shed, but they should soon be closed 

 up tight to prevent too much drying out and to protect from rats, 



mice and the boys. We have not tried a straw shed but have 



been told that such are cooler and preserve a much snore even tem- 

 perature than a board shed, and we are so far convinced of its merits 

 that we propose to try a straw shed next season. A moist cellar is 

 preferable to a dry one for keeping apples, indeed one excellent 



