APPLES. GATHERING AND PRESERVING THE FRUIT. 107 



Webster has recommended that they should be put down 

 between layers of sand which has been dried by the heat 

 of summer. This is without doubt an excellent mode, as 

 it excludes the air, and absorbs the moisture, and must be 

 useful when apples are to be shipped to a warm climate. 



Chopped straw has also been highly recommended to be 

 placed between the layers of fruit; but I have noticed that 

 the straw, from the perspiration it imbibes, becomes musty, 

 and may probably do more hurt than good. When apples 

 are to be exported, it has been recommended that each be 

 separately wrapped in coarse paper, in the manner oranges 

 and lemons are usually put up. This is, without doubt, an 

 excellent mode. And Mr. Loudon has recommended that 

 apples destined for Europe should be packed between 

 layers of grain. 



Great quantities of fine winter fruit are raised in the 

 vicinity of Boston, and put up for winter use, for the mar- 

 kets, and for exportation. The following is the mode al- 

 most universally adopted by the most experienced ; and 

 by this mode apples, under very favorable circumstances, 

 are frequently preserved in a sound state, or not one in 

 fifty defective, for a period of seven or eight months. The 

 fruit is suffered to hang on the tree to as late a period as 

 possible in October, or till hard frosts have loosened the 

 stalk, and they are in imminent danger of being blown 

 down by high winds ; such as have already fallen, are care- 

 fully gathered and inspected, and the best are put up for 

 early winter use. They are carefully gathered from the 

 tree by hand, and as carefully laid in baskets. New, 

 tight, well-seasoned flour barrels from the bakers, are 

 usually preferred : the baskets, being filled, are cautiously 

 lowered into the barrels and reversed. The barrels, being 

 quite filled, are gently shaken, and the head is gently 

 pressed down to its place, and secured. It is observed 

 that this pressure never causes them to rot next tlie head, 

 and is necessary, as they are never allowed to rattle in re- 

 moving. No soft straw or shavings are admitted at the 

 ends ; it causes mustiness and decay. They are next care- 

 fully placed in wagons, and removed on the bulge, and laid 

 in courses in a cool, airy situation on the north side of build- 

 ings, near the cellar, protected by a covering on the top, of 

 boards, so placed as to defend them from the sun and rain, 

 while the air is not excluded at the sides. A chill does noi 



