GENERAL PRACTICE. PERFECTING AND PROTECTING FRUIT. 201 



conditions. This will effect some improvement, but when specimens of the first 

 colour and quality are desired they must be exposed to the sun throughout their 

 period of growth. Some fruits, however, require a little shade at certain stages, as 

 will be explained as this work proceeds. 



Protecting Fruit. Birds of varied kinds attack fruits, pecking holes in them, 

 whereby they are depreciated in value or rendered useless. The birds are partial to the 

 choicest and most inviting fruit in appearance, and some of them find out the best 

 flavoured. Even insectivorous birds vary their diet with fruit, and netting must 

 be employed that will exclude them. It is very important that the netting be 

 placed over the fruit before the birds commence taking it. Individual fruits of apples 

 and pears for exhibition and other purposes are often enclosed in large loosely -hanging 

 gauze bags. 



Preventive measures must also be taken to protect fruit from wasps, hornets, ear- 

 wigs, ants, and slugs. They may not eat much of the fruit, but they spoil its appearance, 

 and a quantity may be wasted through the wet entering and causing decay. Precau- 

 tionary and remedial means in respect of these pests will be noted presently. 



Protecting fruit from the elements when ripe or ripening is essential to its sound 

 preservation. In very wet seasons the supply of moisture is so great that the cells of 

 the fleshy parts of the fruit swell faster than the rind can expand, and it consequently 

 bursts. This is continually occurring in the case of the cherry and plum, while other 

 fruits are similarly affected. The more luscious the fruit the greater the danger of vinous 

 fermentation and decay. Fruit also imbibes water through the pores of the skin, of 

 which advantage is taken by cultivators in keeping fruit-houses close and moist in 

 the declining hours of the day to increase the size of the swelling fruit. Growers of 

 huge gooseberries for prizes keep the calyx end of the berry dipped in a saucer of water, 

 and in that way seek to enlarge the fruit ; but, beneficial as moisture admittedly is, 

 excess is injurious. The point of least resistance invariably gives way the soonest. 

 Thus gooseberries split at the nose because in dripping weather water hangs there, 

 but grapes decay at the shank because that part is most liable to receive the deposited 

 moisture of a confined atmosphere. 



Knowing the conditions most favourable to the preservation of fruit after it is ripe, so 

 as to keep it sound and usable as long as possible, means must be employed to that end. 

 The chief essential is dryness. A light waterproof covering spread over gooseberry 

 bushes may save a crop that would otherwise burst, through rains, in July until Sep- 



VOL. i. DP 



