58 TEE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



or upon the floor of the garret. Here it will gradual- 

 ly assume its full color and become deliciously melt- 

 ing and luscious. Many sorts, which, if suffered to 

 ripen in the sun and open air, are rather dry, when 

 ripened within doors, are most abundantly melting 

 and juicy. They will also last for a considerably 

 longer period if ripened in this way, maturing grad- 

 ually as wanted for use, and being thus beyond the 

 risk of loss or injury by violent storms or high winds. 



" Winter dessert pears should be allowed to hang 

 on the tree as long as possible, till the nights become 

 frosty. 1 They should then be wrapped separately in 

 paper, packed in kegs, barrels, or small boxes, and 

 placed in a cool, dry room, free from frost. Some 

 varieties, as the Beurre d'Aremberg, will ripen finely 

 with no other care than placing them in barrels in 

 the cellar, like apples. But most kinds of the finer 

 Avinter dessert pears should be brought into a warm 

 apartment for a couple of weeks before their usual 

 season of maturity. They should be kept covered, to 

 prevent shrivelling. Many sorts, that are compara- 

 tively tough if ripened in a cold apartment, become 

 very melting, buttery, and juicy, when allowed to 

 mature in a room kept at the temperature of 60 or 70 

 degrees." 



The following is from Mr. Glasses u Gardening 

 Book," as given in the Gardener's Chronicle : 



HOW TO STOKE WINTER PEARS IN SMALL QUANTITIES. 



" Get some unglazed jars garden pots will do ; 



1 I feel compelled to differ from Mr. D. in this respect ; for in the autumn of 

 1S55 I suffered many pears to hang on the trees till the end of October, and they 

 never ripened. I believe the first week in October to be the best period to gather 

 winter pears in. 



