Vi PREFACE. 



preference to the mixture mentioned, objecting totally to wrapping each in 

 paper. 



Form of the Boxes. 



Previous, however, to depositing in the fruit house, many precautions 

 must be taken ; the fruit should be gathered with the greatest care, the 

 shghtest bruise, or pinch, would be fatal ; the fairest and finest specimens 

 must be selected. It should be gathered about ten days before it is ripe, 

 but must have attained its full size ; after gathering, should be left in an 

 open airy situation for about fifteen days, to sweat, and on no account be 

 wiped — previous to its final deposition in the boxes in the fruit house. 

 With all this care some will decay ; the boxes should, therefore, be 

 occasionally looked over, and those shoAving the slightest symptoms of 

 perishing be immediately removed. 



Mr. Paquet's small pubhcation contains many valuable hints on the 

 preservation of fruit on the trees ; on the acceleration and retardation of 

 the period of ripening, and on the artificial means of increasing the beauty 

 and colormg of Fruit. 



Our winter and summer climate, however, differs so much from that of 

 Paris, that judgment must guide our operations here ; to follow implicitly 

 all his ideas might lead us into error. 



The "writer has received a communication from an American friend in 

 France, who is enthusiastically devoted to rural pursuits, which states, that 

 their Apples in France are abundant and good, and many kinds keep well, 

 although he has eaten none which he thinks equal to those here ; but he 

 adds, " their Pears are truly magnificent, and their St. Germains are even 

 now (April, 1847,) in eating ; Fruit, however, in general, is enormously 

 dear, I paid yesterday four cents for an ordinary pear, and a franc, or 

 twenty cents, was the price demanded for one of superior size and quality. 

 The markets for Flowers are held here several days in a week, and 

 certainly are extremely beautiful. I attended the other day a magnificent 



