432 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



be retarded, and their season thereby prolonged, without injury 

 to the quality of the fruit ; but with others, this can only be 

 done at the cost of loss of flavor ; with them, when the process 

 of ripening has once commenced, no attempt should be made to 

 check it, or delay the period of maturity. 



The preservation of fruits is an important matter, and one 

 that has received much attention, fruit rooms or houses being 

 frequently erected especially with reference to this object — 

 such are usually constructed with hollow walls, and these filled 

 in with charcoal dust, chaff, tan, or other supposed non-con- 

 ductors of heat. In order to preserve it, fruit is sometimes 

 put on ice, but by this method, if effectual for the purpose in- 

 tended, the flavor and quality of the fruit is frequently injured. 

 To preserve fruit in perfection, it is necessary to maintain a 

 uniformity of temperature, and at a point below that at which 

 fermentation usually occurs, say at from thirty-eight to forty- 

 five degrees, according to the particular species or kind. 

 Another condition essential to this purpose is a uniform degree 

 of moisture in the air. To have some particular varieties of 

 pears in perfection, it is necessary, while ripening, or to pro- 

 mote that process, to increase, by artificial means, the moisture 

 of the air by which they are surrounded. A uniform degree of 

 pressure from the atmosphere is also important, in order to 

 prevent the shrivelling of the fruit. Although all these con- 

 ditions are not attained thereby, perhaps the best practical 

 mode, as yet ascertained, for the preservation or prolonging 

 the season of any variety of fruit, is by the construction of 

 rooms for the purpose on the principles referred to. 



Fruit, especially apples and pears, it is hardly necessary to 

 say, cannot be gathered too carefully, neither can too much care 

 be used in placing it in the barrels or boxes ; great caution, 

 too, should be used, when it becomes necessary to move the 

 packages in which they are placed, particularly with such as 

 may be intended for export to distant markets; as slight 

 bruises cause injury and early decay. Fruit should be gath- 

 ered during dry weather, and not immediately after a rain. 



