PRESERVATION OF FRUITS. 89 



by many persons, that their fruit, particularly apples, did not 

 keep well, and the fact was attributed wholly to the increase of 

 insects, and to other causes, rather than to tlie generally slovenly, 

 careless manner in which fruit is often taken care of. Even the 

 time when apples, pears, and fruit in general is gathered will 

 be found, not only to have something to do with their keeping 

 properties, but also with the flavor and quality. 



All winter varieties should be allowed to remain on the trees 

 as late as safety will permit ; by thus doing they lose much of 

 the water contained in tlieir juices, which become more sugary, 

 high flavored, and better elaborated. 



This treatment refers only to winter fruit. The method of 

 management with summer apples, as well as summer and fall 

 varieties of pears, is wholly different. They should be picked 

 early, as soon as the skin begins to change color ; otherwise 

 they become mealy and almost worthless. Some pears are of 

 third quality when allowed to remain and soften on the tree, 

 but become rich, melting, and delicious if house-ripened. 



The manner of gathering should always be by the hand. It 

 is of great consequence in gathering all kinds of fruit to avoid 

 bruising. The branch to be gathered from should be taken by 

 one hand, and the fruit carefully picked off by the other, with 

 the stems attached. Fruit never keeps as well without the stem. 

 It is always well to have a doubled piece of paper, or a little 

 moss at the bottom of the baskets used for picking, to prevent 

 chafing, and a bent piece of iron or strong wire, in form of an 

 S, is convenient to hang the basket to the rounds of the ladder, 

 or the branches of the tree. 



Peaches and other soft fruits should be pressed as lightly as 

 possible in gathering, for any tiling like a squeeze is certainly 

 followed by decay, in the form of a brown spot ; and thus it is 

 that peaches brought into our markets decay so soon. Many 

 careful cultivators, when more than one layer of fruit is laid 

 in the same basket, put a little cut hay to separate them ; for it 

 is very difficult to place one layer immediately upon another, 

 and especially if the fruit is approaching maturity, without 

 more or less bruising. One point more, that I would lay much 

 stress upon, that is, all fruit, for long keeping, should only be 

 gathered in dry weather and on a bright sunny day. 



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