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AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



portion of the water and thus improve the flavour. Most 

 apples follow a middle course partly ripening in the fruit 

 house as do oranges and lemons generally. After fruit 

 is matured, we may wish to keep it for use, either fresh, 

 dried, or preserved. But the natural fruit ferments 

 become active in ripening, and continue their work 

 afterward. Then there are minute fungus growths, always 

 ready to operate upon ripe fruit, and especially while all 

 the natural moisture is present. 



Fallen and Bruised Fruits. When fruits drop from 

 the tree they quickly begin to decay. Fungus and other 

 growths attack and destroy them. When bruised, the 

 decay is still more rapid, and no process of preserving 

 can rectify the damage or improve the quality. Damaged 

 fruits that have been preserved decay rapidly when opened. 

 The question of when to gather fruits, and how to preserve 

 them, are closely related. The success of the latter 

 depends on the former. 



Preservative Agencies. The aids available are heat 

 to destroy fungus growths, or by evaporating such portion 

 of the water as may be necessary ; cold to check 

 bacterial or ferment action ; or drying to reduce moisture 

 and consequent risks in that direction. Further, there 

 is the process of excluding the air, and its spore contents 

 by bottling or tinning, and so shut out the cause of decay. 



Supplies for Home Use First. In 

 warm climates we should have fruit, fresh 

 or preserved, on the table with every 

 meal. It is more wholesome than 

 meat, and we can use it more often. 

 Fruits and vegetables contain all the 

 requirements of healthy life, in their best 

 forms. To eat fruit half-a-dozen times a 

 day is not too often, during hot spells. 

 Mature suggests at such times to eat little 

 but often, and in fruit we have both meat and 

 drink. Stewing is the foundation process 

 for the home table. Use plenty of sugar, 

 and then see how old and young revel in 

 the wholesome seasonable change. Fruit 



