GATHERING AND MANAGEMENT OF APPLES. 285 



while on the trees, will not be injured by a light white 

 frost. "Winter apples will not freeze until the atmospheric 

 temperature is from five to ten degrees below the freezing- 

 point of water; and it is beneficial to keep them as cool as 

 possible, even down to thirty degrees. Some persons have 

 affirmed that apples inclosed in a water-tight cask may be 

 left in a cold loft or garret all winter, without further care, 

 and they will be sound in the spring, and perfectly fresh. 

 But we have never dared to repose sufficient confidence in 

 the doubtful experiment to try it. No matter where apples 

 may be if in a complete vacuum if they freeze through, 

 the frost will injure them. Another consideration of im- 

 portance, touching the proper period for gathering winter 

 apples, is this : the fruit should be plucked before a large 

 proportion of it is blown off by the wind. If apples have 

 ceased to grow, and are beginning to fall, the sooner they 

 are plucked, the longer they will keep good. Some varie- 

 ties should be gathered several weeks before the apples on 

 the adjoining trees have attained their growth. Hence no 

 person can indicate, on paper, the exact period when ap- 

 ples should be gathered. Winter apples can be gathered 

 too early; and there is danger of allowing them to remain 

 on the trees too late in the growing season. When apples 

 are ripe and the trees have ceased to grow, the fruit should 

 be gathered at once, no matter what may be the day of 

 the month. Winter apples should never be plucked when 

 the fruit is wet, nor when it is chilled and almost frozen. 

 Should an unexpectedly cold time occur, it will be better to 

 let the fruit remain on the trees, than to shake it to the 

 ground, unless it can be shaken before the apples are chilled. 

 Every orchardist should make himself familiar with the 

 qualities and characteristics of different varieties of winter 

 apples, and pluck those first that ripen first. A little ob- 

 servation on this point will enable one to determine with 



