KEEPING. 91 



CHAPTER X. 



KEEPING. 



Cranberries grown upon meadows covered with a heavy 

 growth of vines keep well, while those gathered from 

 plantations imperfectly matted, with white sand visible 

 through the vines, are 'more disposed to soften, and rot 

 early. This is, perhaps, owing to the reflected heat from 

 the sand, together with the direct heat of the sun, ripen- 

 ing them too rapidly. Little spots, apparently the result 

 of heat, may frequently be seen upon the sides of these 

 berries, and when thus affected, they should be sent to 

 market at once, as they will not keep long. As a rule, it 

 is always best to sell cranberries grown upon young plan- 

 tations, or on vines not well matted, as soon as they are 

 sufficiently colored. This spotting of the fruit is not 

 wholly confined to meadows thinly set, but may, at times, 

 be seen upon berries produced amid the rank growths of 

 natural bogs, especially when the weather is very hot at 

 the time of ripening. 



Cranberries free from spots, and carefully handled to 

 prevent bruising, will keep well in places suitable for 

 storing apples or other fruit, with as low a temperature as 

 possible and yet avoid freezing. Thorough ventilation 

 is also very essential ; hence, for keeping, the bushel 

 boxes, previously described, are preferable to barrels ; for 

 the reason that they permit the air to circulate freely. 



The sun's rays have a softening influence if allowed to 

 shine upon cranberries after they are picked ; as was illus- 

 trated by an individual who stored some berries in open 

 bins, upon a shed floor ; the sun, being allowed to shine 

 through a small window upon them, caused a portion to 

 decay very rapidly. 



In another instance, a lot of fine berries were put in 



