FOURTH WEEK IN OCTOBER 



up mildew amongst the rest, for this will spread with great 

 rapidity if allowed to do so. 



Newspaper is the best material on which to lay out the 

 fruit, and each pear should not quite touch the others, if 

 possible, storing each variety together in a separate place. 

 In the case of valuable dessert fruit it is usually a mistake to 

 leave the selection of those which are ripe to a servant, who 

 is often pressed for time, and cannot give the necessary 

 attention to the matter. Never should a pear be pinched 

 near the stem to ascertain its state, for this, of course, will 

 result in a bruise should it still need to be kept in the store ; 

 when really fit to eat the colour of the skin changes, taking 

 on a warmer tint, which can readily be recognised by an 

 observant eye, whilst there is a delicious aroma noticeable 

 at the apex of the fruit when ripeness has taken place. It 

 is, therefore, most desirable to visit the place daily where 

 much fruit is stored, both to remove that which is ripe and 

 to prevent any injury to the rest. With a good selection of 

 pears it is possible to supply the table with them from 

 August until the following May ; but this can only be done 

 by those who not only grow the fruit, but avoid all waste 

 by personal attention to the best methods of gathering and 

 storing it for the winter. 



