Deterioration of Apples. 213 



On these shelves, the apples may be strewed two aud three deep 

 iu thickness, this will allow of their being picked out as fast as 

 any decayed ones make their appearance. 



Ventilation should be had from the window outside, or into the 

 main cellar as Avauted. 



The temperature should be kept as low as it can be above freez- 

 ing point. Where only a few apples are wanted by mechanics, 

 a large box such as they pack prunes in for transportation, 

 may be put up temporaril}^ in a cool part of the cellar, which will 

 answer a very good purpose to store apples in. Another great 

 point to have apples keep well ; they should be gathered or 

 picked from the tree, and handled in such a way that none will be 

 bruised when they go into the fruit cellar ; careful cultivators 

 will understand this point. On the whole, as to the deterioration 

 of the apple generally, we should be inclined to think it more 

 owing to climate and seasons, than to any running out or shorten- 

 ing in of the keeping qualities of apples, as to time. There may 

 be some difference between growing apples on a new soil, 

 over the old States, in regard to their keeping qualities ; but we 

 should want more proof of that hereafter, in order to place much 

 reliance in it. It is possible you may take any of the long keep- 

 ing apples named in the several " Fruit Books," and yet under 

 actual trial they might come short two or four months in keeping 

 when compared with the " Books," so we think it one of those 

 points which will be difficult to determine. Before closing, we 

 will just say a word about cutting cherry grafts for spring graft- 

 ing. The grafts may be cut any time from the middle of Febru- 

 ary to the first or the tenth of March, if the season be late. Cut and 

 pack them in sand or moss in the cellar till wanted. The grafting 

 should be done as early in April, as the weather will admit. 

 Though if the scions are in good order, that is, the buds not 

 swelled or started, the grafting may be done any time from the 

 first to the fifteenth or twentieth of April. We have had good 

 success in grafting the cherry where the leaves on the stock were 

 well started, and if the scions were right, as named above. In 

 this way, the " Mazzard cherry " may have a new top set on by 

 grafting, with as little less per cent, as apple grafting. But if 

 the cherry grafts aie cut a few days too late, or the scions' buds 

 are swelled much, not more than one out of ten of the scions 



