98 AGRICULTURE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



unripe apple. Does it prevent the formation of color 

 beneath it? 



It is very important to control the ripening of fruit. 

 Pears, as is well known, should be picked before they 

 are fully ripe, and allowed to ripen in the dark, on 

 shelves or in drawers. They are then not so gritty as 

 those which ripen on the tree. 



Fruit should always be kept in a cool place (in cold 

 storage, if possible), and never exposed to the sun. The 

 stalk should not be pulled off, since this leaves a wound 

 which quickly softens and decays. 



A decayed spot will cause decay wherever it touches 

 another fruit. Hence, keep the fruits from touching 

 each other as much as possible. It is best to wrap 

 them in soft paper. 



Fruit which takes some days to reach the market is 

 sometimes picked green and allowed to ripen on the 

 way. But it is better to pick it ripe, place it in cold 

 storage for two or three days, and then send it in re- 

 frigerator cars. 



Of what use to the plant is the bright color and pleas- 

 ant taste of the fruit? There is no doubt that they 

 attract birds which scatter the seeds far and wide. 

 Some seeds and fruits cling to clothing or to animals 

 (bur clover, tarweed) and are carried long distances. 

 Some plants shoot their seeds into the air. Many seeds 

 are carried long distances by the wind; these travel 

 best of all. On the prairies the farmers build wire 



