THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



we keep most of the winter store of vegetables. 

 The old-time custom was to stack apples in the 

 orchard for a few days, the idea being that 

 they needed to " sweat," as the farmers ex- 

 pressed it, before packing; which was a blun- 

 der, for, on the contrary, the fruit often 

 heated, and decay was started before it ever 

 reached its storing place. 



If only good, sound specimens are carefully 

 handled not thrown or poured from one re- 

 ceptacle to another, as is often done packed 

 immediately after gathering, and stored in as 

 cool a place as can be found, but, of course, 

 free from frost, they will keep perfectly. We 

 have several times held over a few barrels for 

 late winter sale, with no better place to store 

 them than the northern corner of the barn, 

 which had been boarded off for an office or 

 store-room prior to our tenancy. Barrels were 

 placed on their sides, and, as extremely cold 

 weather approached, straw was gradually 

 thrown over them, and as late as March we 

 have found them in good condition. 



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