142 FRUIT BOOK. 



in single layers, so that any which begin to decay 

 may be easily picked out. This has been our 

 practice. " Cellars, if dry, as is justly said, and 

 not subject to become heated from any cause, are 

 much better situations for keeping fruits in, than 

 lofts or garrets, their temperature being much 

 less liable to change ; and as a low and uniform 

 temperature is the means of preservation for all 

 fruits, the necessity of a due attention to this 

 particular will be at once apparent." 



In gathering fruits, a dry day should be chosen, 

 particularly for winter pears and apples ; and the 

 middle of the day should be preferred, when the 

 foliage and fruit are pefectly dry. 



" All summer fruit," says the venerable Eogers 

 of Southampton, " should be gathered in the cool 

 of the morning ; they are then more juicy and 

 high flavored ; if gathered in the heat of the day, 

 they are vapid, and not half so refreshing to the 

 palate, as when gathered before the sun has 

 much power ; but in regard to gathering the more 

 valuable and winter fruits, the case is wholly 

 different." It is also important that keeping 

 pears should be as completely ripened as the 

 climate and season will admit of ; for if they are 

 gathered before maturity, they shrivel, and do 

 not keep so well ; hence, old Tusser, in his " Five 

 Hundred Points of Good Husbandry," says, 



" Fruit gathered too timelie, will taste of the wood, 

 Will shrink and be bitter, and seldome prove good ; 

 So fruit that is shaken, or beat off a tree, 

 With bruising in falling, soon faultie will be." 



