140 FRUIT CULTURE. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

 GATHEEING AND STOEIXG. 



MUCH cai'e and judgment are required in gathering and 

 storing fruit, in order to have it in the best condition for 

 consumption, as well as to extend as much as possible the 

 period of use. 



Peaches, Apricots, and Nectarines must not be gathered 

 until they are fully ripe, as they do not acquire their full 

 aromatic flavour and saccharine qualities until the exact 

 period of ripening. Where it is necessary to gather even 

 a few days prior to the time of using they lose much of 

 the lusciousness of the fresh fruit, and the fruit that 

 drops is undoubtedly the best, if nets can be arranged to 

 catch it without bruising as it falls. 



It is, however, possible to preserve them for a week or 

 ten days, when fully ripe, by placing them in a cold store, 

 where the temperature is maintained within a few degrees 

 of freezing, without being quite to the freezing-point. 

 But a store of this kind is only accessible to the few. 

 Much, however, may be done to extend the season of 

 use by a careful selection of early, mid-season, and late 

 varieties, to fruit in succession, and also by planting on 

 different aspects. 



Plums. Almost the same remarks apply to plums as 

 to peaches and nectarines. They should not be gathered 

 until fully ripe. Plums, however, will hang somewhat 

 longer on the tree after ripening, and but little can be 

 done towards keeping them in store for dessert after 

 gathering, but the same remarks apply here as to peaches 

 and nectarines respecting the selection of varieties and 

 aspects to prolong the season. And with care in this re- 



