LECT. ix DISPOSAL OF GARDEN PRODUCE 129 



question must be gathered when quite dry. Straw- 

 berries should be ripe when gathered, but not over- 

 ripe ; they ought to be firm and bright. When too 

 ripe they become soft to the touch, and assume a 

 dull, dark colour. They are best gathered with 

 stalks attached, from half an inch to an inch in 

 length, for dessert, but many are gathered without 

 for preserving. All fruits should be clean, all that 

 are damaged being rigidly excluded. 



Raspberries should be gathered with stalks attached 

 only when they are required for dessert. For all 

 culinary purposes they are gathered without stalks. 

 This should be done whilst the fruits are still firm 

 to the touch. When ripe, or nearly so, they are very 

 absorbent of water, hence, after continued rains, are 

 not in a fit condition for preserving, and should then 

 be used either for making raspberry vinegar or for 

 cookery. The fruits ripen very quickly when they 

 reach a certain stage, and to secure them in the best 

 condition they should be gathered immediately they 

 are ready. 



Currants, both red and white, are gathered with 

 the stalks, and the fruit afterwards handpicked from 

 them ; but black currants are preferably picked with- 

 out stalks from the bushes, for the reason that the 

 uppermost and finest berries on each stalk often 

 ripen a week before the lower ones. The best fruits 

 would thus be lost if allowed to wait for the whole 

 bunch becoming ripe. The bushes should therefore 

 be picked over several times, at intervals of three or 

 four days, taking the ripest berries in each case, and 

 leaving the stalks. Currants in all cases require to 

 be fully ripe before being gathered for any purpose. 

 Red and white currants will hang upon the trees in 

 good condition for a long time if protected from birds 

 by netting or mats, and it is no uncommon thing for 



