THE PEAR TREE ] 209 



are left on the tree as late as possible, sometimes until 

 there is danger of frost. In the following pages the time 

 of harvesting according to our local experience, shall be 

 given for each variety in the course of its description, 

 along with other cultural information. 



Before harvesting the fruit, it is desirable to suspend 

 watering for a few days, so that the fruit may not be too 

 watery and therefore more liable to shrinkage. The 

 fruit is cut if possible in the morning as soon as the dew 

 has evaporated, and before the fruit has become too 

 much heated by the sun. Baskets used for this purpose 

 should have internally a double lining of canvas, so that 

 the fruit may not be exposed to injury by pressure 

 against the sides and bottom of the basket. The fruit 

 should be handled with care; it is taken in the hand, 

 placing a finger under the stalk close to 'its insertion on 

 the branch, and by slightly turning up the fruit, this will 

 leave its hold at once, if in its proper moment for 

 picking. The fruit is then placed gently on its side in 

 the basket, carefully avoiding injury to the stalk by 

 rough handling or otherwise. When the basket is full 

 it is taken at once into the fruit room and emptied with 

 care, disposing the fruit on the shelves to ripen. The 

 room should not be exposed to extremes of heat or cold, 

 and should be well ventilated, but should be kept 

 constantly dark, except of course when handling or 

 inspecting the fruit. The shelves may be of wood, well 

 smoothed, and covered loosely with sheets of paper. They 

 may be in tiers, 20 c.m. apart and not more broad than 

 is compatible with easy inspection and handling. Shelves 

 made of trellis work, or wire netting, or other similar 

 material will afford better ventilation, but the fruit is 

 bound to suffer by pressure against the angles or inequa- 

 lities of the structure, although partly protected by the 

 paper. Shelves made of smooth stone scantlings are 

 good, but they take too much space, and cannot be 

 moved easily as required. The fruit is disposed on 

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