OCTOBER: THIRD WEEK 271 



and cucumbers may be stored in straw or leaves in a dark 

 cool place, and used up as they ripen. 



BEANS. All the pole beans and most of the bush beans are 

 good for winter use, gathered as soon as the pods dry, even 

 if there is no danger of frost. If the work has to be done in 

 a hurry, the plants may be pulled and hung up under cover 

 where they will dry. 



TOMATOES. The first hard frost usually doubles the price 

 of tomatoes. All the fruits on the vines should be gathered 

 when the first hard frost threatens. The more mature will 

 ripen up gradually for some time to come, and the green 

 ones are usually in good demand for pickling. A few plants 

 may be taken up and hung upside down in a shed or dry 

 cellar, letting the fruit ripen on the vines, which it will con- 

 tinue to do for a surprisingly long time. Some of the best 

 of the green fruits placed in clean straw in a dry cold part 

 of the cellar or storehouse or in a frame will often ripen for 

 Thanksgiving and even later. 



OKRA. The plants may be cut and the pods allowed to 

 dry, and saved for use in soups or for flavoring. 



SWEET POTATOES should be dug as soon as the tops are 

 killed, dried thoroughly, and then stored in open crates in 

 the attic near a chimney, or in some similar spot where they 

 can be kept as dry and as warm as possible. 



EGGPLANTS and PEPPERS, though usually not injured by 

 the first light frosts that blacken the leaves, should be 

 gathered before danger of frosts that would blister the 

 fruits, and kept in the same way as suggested for melons and 

 cucumbers. 



SWEET CORN. When frost threatens, cut stalks and all, 

 just as for field corn. It may be " shocked " in the same 

 way, and the ears will remain in good condition much longer 

 than if pulled from the stalks. 



FRUITS. In picking the tree fruits too much care cannot 

 be taken to prevent the slightest bruising. A bruise so 

 slight as to be invisible at the time will develop into a de- 

 cayed spot later. Only the soundest and greenest should be 

 stored away. Barrels, or cracker boxes, which hold prac- 



