242 THE FLOEAL WOULD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



the trees till sufficiently ripe to fall of their own accord ai'e much 

 too ripe for preserving for any length of time. Some fruits, such 

 as peaches, plums, etc., will not keep over a day or two ; and the 

 flavour of the fruit thus allowed to fall will be much deteriorated. 

 There are certain criteria, by which we may know with great 

 nicety when fruit is iu a proper state for gathering. Most fruits, 

 such as peaches, pears, and plums, part freely from the tree when 

 ripe. Plums should he handled in the most careful manner, other- 

 wise the bloom will be rubbed off them. When this is the case, a 

 little fine flour should be carefully dusted over them, but with the 

 greatest delicacy. Apricots should be gathered when the side next 

 the 3un feels soft, which may be ascertained by a gentle pressure 

 with the finger. This fruit adheres firmly to the trees, and would, 

 if not gathered, remain until it was over-ripe, and had become mealy. 



Peaches, nectarines, apples, and pears, fall of their own accord 

 when fully ripe ; but they should never be allowed to do so, for 

 reasons before stated. The best plan is to gather all fruits, with 

 the exception of stone-fruit, sometime previous to their arriving at 

 maturity, to place them in a warm room to accelerate their ripening, 

 if they are required for immediate use. A good criterion with 

 apples' and pears is to cut up a fruit of average ripeness, and if the 

 seeds have acquired a brown or black colour, they are in a fit state 

 for gathering ; but if they remain white, the fruit is not ripe, and 

 should remain sometime longer on the trees, even supposing a slight 

 frost should intervene. Some sorts of pears and apples which have 

 had a slight touch of frost are not injured by it ; on the contrary, 

 they will be found to have acquired a fine flavour. If severe frost 

 should set in before the late sorts of apples and pears on the walla 

 (which in some cold and unfavourable climates will be the case) 

 have arrived at proper maturity for gathering, they should be 

 covered by suspending canvas or bunting in front of them. Having 

 procured the proper materials, and cut or sewed them into con- 

 venient lengths, they should then be fastened on the top of the walls 

 by means of hooks and eyes of sufficient strength, and to pegs 

 driven into the ground at two or three feet from the wall; this 

 covering should always be taken off during the middle of the day, 

 and replaced in the evening ; by this means they can be allowed to 

 remain on the trees much longer, free from frost. If apples have 

 been pitted in the manner previously recommended, and if very 

 severe frost should occur, the pit should on no account be opened 

 if there is ths least suspicion that the frost has reached them ; if it 

 is opened, air will enter, and the consequence will be the entire loss 

 of the fruit. When the frost has disappeared the pit may be opened 

 with safety. 



Cherries. — This fruit should be gathered when quite ripe. I, 

 however, would recommend a portion of them to be gathered before 

 being quite ripe, and if required for immediate use, they should be 

 suspended over a hothouse flue in a basket in order to accelerate 

 their ripening. The remainder may be kept in air-tight tin cases, 

 of a broad and flat form, packed in a little fine dry charcoal, beech- 

 flowers, or bran, until they are required for use. 



