^$ Description and Plans of the Fruit Room 



choice. Many of these, however, are naturally of so short 

 duration, that they cannot be long kept well under any cir- 

 cumstances. Means may be adopted for preventing their de- 

 composition, but their flavor is frequently deteriorated or com- 

 pletely lost. In general, those kinds that ripen early soon 

 decay ; and a large proportion of the fruit cultivated by ex- 

 tensive growers is of this description, because it pays them 

 better to take such at once to market than run the risk con- 

 sequent on the keeping of later varieties. Hence we find 

 that towards Christmas the quantity of fruit, of pears more 

 especially, is greatly diminished, and that the choice is re- 

 duced to comparatively few sorts. Such favorites as the 

 Marie Louise and BeuiTe Bosc are not to be had under ordi- 

 nary circumstances. In January the scarcity becomes greater, 

 and Jersey Chaumontels make their appearance, imported at 

 the high price of, not unfrequently, 51. per hundred ; whilst 

 well matured specimens of the Easter Buerre and Beurre 

 Ranee are in request, leaving the greener and less perfect of 

 these, and a few of some other sorts, to make occasionally 

 the appearance of supply during the spring months, — quite 

 inadequate, however, to meet anything like a regular demand, 

 such as would certainly be made if pears could be well kept 

 in abundance till that period. 



The high state of perfection in which fine specimens of 

 pears have been frequently exhibited to the Society by Mr. 

 Moorman at periods of the season much later than the varie- 

 ties usually keep, rendered it very desirable to obtain an ac- 

 count of the method by which these were preserved in such 

 admirable condition. On applying to Mr. Moorman he kindly 

 aff'orded every information with regard to the mode by which 

 his pears are kept ; and he also permitted Mr. Sibthorp, the 

 superintendent of works at the Society's Garden, to make the 

 accompanying drawings, which will give a correct idea of the 

 place. 



The room was not originally constructed for a fruit room ; 

 but, by a little adaptation, Mr. Moorman has succeeded in 

 rendering it a most excellent one, as is proved by the prizes 

 awarded for the productions exhibited from it, — not in any 



