FRUIT-KOOMS. 2G7 



to be correct. The small-sized and badly-shaped fruit must be 

 thinned out early in the season. The rest should be allowed to 

 remain on the tree as long as safe from freezing, and packed away 

 soon after gathering, in cases with limited ventilation. Judgment 

 must be exercised in determining the amount of fruit to remain on 

 a tree. The quantity of winter pears must be less than is allow- 

 able in the case of summer or autumn pears. 



Without question, winter pears, like other fruit, can only ripen 

 perfectly in masses. There is some undiscovered influence in the 

 contact of fruit with fruit, that gives to masses a perfection of 

 flavor unattainable with small quantities. 



FKUIT-ROOMS. 

 For eflfecting these conditions of ripening, expensive structures, 

 fruit-houses, and rooms have been erected, and it is but just to 

 say, have, in many cases, resulted only in disappointment. When 

 one has not a good dry cellar, it may become necessary to provide 

 a fruit-room, and the reason why cellars are not generally suitable 

 for preserving fruit is, that they are usually too damp; they 

 should be of low and even temperature, and dark. Fruit-rooms 

 should be built with double walls, confining a stratum of air be- 

 tween, which is sometimes more perfectly accomplished by filling 

 in with dry tan, charcoal dust, and similar substances. There 

 should be but one window, and that fitted with double sashes. 

 Ventilators should be provided, which should be allowed to change 

 the air of the room only sufficiently to prevent its becoming feculent 

 and damp. No decaying fruit should be permitted to remain in 

 the room, nor any vegetables or substances having odor. A gentle- 

 man who had expressed much disappointment with the flavor of 

 several fine varieties of pears, was greatly surprised by having the 

 cause of the inferiority of his fruit pointed out. He at once com- 

 menced removing from his fruit room all the materials belonging 

 to the harness and lumber-room, the decaying matter^accumulatcd 

 in corners and boxes, and finished with thoroughly cleansing and 

 whitewashing the walls. The pears ripened in the room, there- 

 after, were not only a source of gratification in their fine flavor, 

 but of surprise at the means of their perfection. Other fruits 



