VALUE OF CLEAN SKIN 47 



This absorption of moisture explains also the efficacy 

 of one of the best means known for preventing the decay 

 of fruits. Experience of recent years has shown that the 

 wrapping of fruits with paper is a more efficient means 

 of protecting them from the ordinary rot than almost any 

 device that has ever been adopted. There may be two 

 reasons for this. Wrapping the fruit with paper protects 

 it to a considerable extent from mold spores, which would 

 drop upon the skin from the air if it were not thus pro- 

 tected. But this is doubtless not the chief reason for 

 the value of the paper wrapper, since the fruit is almost 

 sure to be infected with the mold spores while still on the 

 trees, and certainly before it can be wrapped in the paper. 

 The paper used is of a soft, porous nature, and, when prop- 

 erly wrapped around the fruit, absorbs quickly any mois- 

 ture that may be upon the skin, and prevents moisture from 

 further condensation. 



Clean Skin. The facts mentioned also clearly explain 

 the value of a smooth skin. Since decay always starts 

 from spores that lodge on the skin, any method of pre- 

 venting their lodging or of removing them will protect 

 the fruit ; hence the wiping of fruit with a clean cloth 

 will be useful in protecting it from decay. Wiping can- 

 not, indeed, wholly remove the spores, but it aids materi- 

 ally. Moreover, if the wiping is done with a dry cloth, it 

 will also remove the moisture, a matter of no small impor- 

 tance. Fruit dealers, who have learned by experience how 

 to handle fruit, understand well that a frequent wiping of 

 fruit till it is dry and clean is a necessity for its best 

 preservation. It is sometimes surprising to see in what 

 fine condition some dealers can keep fruit far into the 



