Keeping Fruit After Picking. 397 



the idea seems to have originated with Uriah Hair, 

 of the same place. 



After fruit is picked, it is very important that it 

 should be kept cool and away from the direct sun. 

 This is particularly important with the soft and 

 berry -like fruits, like grapes, strawberries, cherries 

 and peaches. The fruits not only ripen up rapidly 

 after they are picked if the sun strikes them, but 

 they may also become so warm that they will not 

 withstand shipment. It is ordinarily best to pick the 

 perishable fruits early in the morning, if they are 

 dry, and then to pack them up tight and send them 

 directly to the railway station ; or, if they have be- 

 come too warm, or if it is desired to delay the ship- 

 ment, then they should be put in the cellar or a 

 cold storage in order to reduce them to a low tem- 

 perature. If the soft fruits, like strawberries and 

 raspberries, are treated in this way, they will ordi- 

 narily endure shipment best if they are sent in tight, 

 unventilated crates. Apples ripen up very rapidly in 

 the pile if they are exposed directly to the rays of 

 the sun. It is always well, therefore, if they are 

 piled in the field, to place them on the shady side of 

 the tree, if possible; but, no doubt, the very best 

 results in long- keeping qualities are obtained when 

 the apples are taken directly from the trees to a cool 

 room and there kept in storage, where the ripening 

 process is wholly or partially checked. This is espe- 

 cially important if they are to be shipped long dis- 

 tances, and particularly if they are to be exported. If 

 the weather is cool and somewhat dull at the picking 



