284 THE FLOEAL WOULD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



light sandy turfy loam, in the proportion of five of the former to one 

 oi the latter, and add a liberal quantity of sharp silver sand, and 

 broken potsherds, or lumpy bits of charcoal, in order to ensure per- 

 colation of water through the mass after the decay of the fibre has 

 taken place. 



ON THE PRESERVATION OP FRUIT. 



^^^^^pMONGST the different materials for preserving fruits, 

 recommended by different authors, are found the fol- 

 lowing : — Charcoal, sand, moss, oak-chaff, the husks of 

 different grains, oats, sawdust, paper, bog-mould, beech 

 and hazel flowers, bran, canvas, sealing-wax, hay, 

 straw, and fern. 



The Husks of the different varieties of corn, as oats, barley, 

 wheat, have been by some recommended for keeping fruit in ; but I 

 disapprove of them, on account of the obnoxious gases they absorb 

 during the process of kiln-drying. Before being ground, however, 

 these, as well as oak-chaff, answer well for packing, if the fruit has 

 been previously surrounded with fine paper or linen, dried before 

 the fire previous to being used. 



Oats. — I have been informed that in Portugal, apples and pears 

 have been preserved the whole year round by being packed in air- 

 tight vessels and surrounded with oats, which receive no injury by 

 being in contact with the apples. This material is not, however, 

 generally used for packing, as the grains of the oats are apt 

 to bruise the apples. 



Sawdust. — This should never be used, except it can be procured 

 from hard-wooded trees, such as oaks, beech, etc. The sawdust of 

 resinous trees should on no account be used for this purpose, as it 

 is never entirely free from a resinous smell, which gives the fruit a 

 disagreeable flavour. It might, however, be used for packing fruits 

 in that are to be sent to a short distance ; but each fruit, previously 

 to being immersed in the sawdust, should be well surrounded with 

 linen or paper. 



Paper. — This material is employed for preserving fruit, but it 

 becomes expensive when there is a large quantity to be preserved. 

 If charcoal or sand are used, this and all other covering may be 

 dispensed with. 



Bog-Mould. — I have been informed that this has been tried for 

 preserving apples during winter, and that it is found to answer the 

 purpose ; but, having little experience with it, perhaps some corres- 

 pondent that has used it will favour me with the result. 



Beech and Hazel Flowers. — I can recommend the use of these 

 for packing and preserving fruit, especially the more delicate kinds. 

 They answer well for packing grapes, peaches, etc., first putting in 

 a layer of the flowers, and then a layer of grapes or peaches, until 

 the box is full. The fruits will be found as fresh at their journey's 

 end as when first put in, with the exception that the bloom of the 



