142 FRUIT CULTURE. 



is nearly or quite matni'ed, but if the pips are still white 

 it should remain longer on the tree. If gathered too early 

 they shrivel and become tough and leathery, and do not 

 attain their full flavour. The same varieties should always 

 be placed together in the store, and it will be found a 

 great convenience to place them in the order of their 

 ripening, with a distinct label to each, upon which should 

 be noted the time when they will be in use. They require 

 careful watching as they approach maturity, as in some 

 cases the period in which they are in use is so short that 

 it is needful to commence them the moment they are fit. 



Apples. A few of the early varieties, such as Early 

 Juneating, Mr. Gladstone, etc., have to be gathered and 

 used direct from the tree. If placed in the store for even 

 a few days they become mealy and crack. Those ripen- 

 ing somewhat later may be safelyplaced in the store for 

 a short time. All the succeeding fruits may be gathered 

 when fully ripe, and carefully stored. For private growers 

 a different store should be arranged from that for market 

 growers described on page 83 ; but, of course, the same 

 -principles apply as to the equable temperature to be main- 

 tained. Bat where a number of varieties have to be 

 stored for private use, consisting of dessert and culinary 

 fruit, a more commodious building should be arranged, 

 with plenty of room for examining and drawing from the 

 fruit as required, as well as provision for plenty of light. 

 Arrangements, however, should be made to exclude the 

 light completely when not required, as apples keep better 

 and retain their freshness more perfectly in the dark than 

 in the light. But it will be necessai'y to provide double 

 doors, double walls, and double windows, and the position 

 chosen should be as sheltered as possible. Do not on any 

 account introduce hot-water pipes into the apple room, 



