468 Appendix, 



damp (not wet) moss, or in small boxes of damp (not wet) saw- 

 dust large boxes of sawdust will heat. Mark every sort carefully 

 and plainly. Another good way to keep scions through winter is 

 to place them snugly in a box till it is more than half full ; next 

 nail in two or three cross-pieces to hold them, and then bury the 

 box inverted with several inches of earth over it, on a dry spot or 

 knoll. They will thus be kept from contact with the wet earth, 

 and will receive enough moisture from below to keep them fresh 

 and plump. Cuttings of currants, grapes, quinces, gooseberries, 

 etc., are to be taken off in autumn, and they may be kept till early 

 spring in the same way as grafts, or they may be set out at once, 

 pressing the earth compactly against them, and covering well till 

 spring, with manure, litter, leaves, or evergreen boughs. 



MARKETING FRUIT. 



PACKING PEARS FOR CONVEYANCE BY RAILROAD. For mar- 

 keting by the quantity, the best way is to pack them in half-barrels. 

 Remove one head, and turn the barrel upside down, so that the 

 pears put in first will open at the top when they are to be taken out 

 for use. Procure a quantity of white printing paper for lining the 

 half-barrels. This will give the whole a neat, finished appearance, 

 preserve the pears better, and give them a higher price. First 

 place a folded sheet in the bottom, and then a layer of pears over 

 it, and proceed to fill the barrel by laying the specimens in com- 

 pactly, shaking occasionally very slightly, to settle them. It is of 

 great importance that they be packed as closely as possible without 

 bruising, so that they may not work loose on the way ; for as soon 

 as they begin to " rattle " in the barrel they are inevitably ruined. 

 We have known handsome pears which would have brought ten 

 or twelve dollars a barrel, completely spoiled by being placed 

 loosely and carelessly in the barrel. As they are filled in, line the 

 sides with white paper, and cover the top well with it. Let the 

 top surface of the pears be about three-fourths of an inch above the 

 lower surface of the inserted head, so that when the head is borne 

 down by the screw or lever, it shall press them down three -fourths 

 of an inch. This will bring them closely and firmly together, and 

 prevent rattling the elasticity of the fruit admitting of this pres- 

 sure. It is better to have the surface project upwards an inch, than 

 less than three-fourths. Never put in mellow specimens for long 



