THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



each week, throughout the winter. Of course, 

 when a large orchard is in good bearing order it 

 becomes necessary to buy barrels wholesale and 

 have them shipped ; but the beginner, or people 

 on a small place, who only want ten or twenty 

 barrels, have to depend on their groceryman. 



Pears are always better gathered before 

 quite ripe, even the summer varieties for home 

 consumption, as they are very apt to lose fla- 

 vor, and become stringy or mealy in texture, 

 if left to fully ripen on the tree. The right 

 condition for picking can be gauged by bend- 

 ing the fruit straight upward. If the stalk 

 snaps sharply from the spur, the tree can be 

 stripped; but if it breaks off below the spur, 

 wait a day or two and try again. 



The summer pears should be laid out in a 

 dark place to ripen; or, if space is limited, lay 

 in boxes with paper between the layers. Late 

 varieties, to be kept for winter use, should be 

 packed in the same way, only, of course, lids 

 must be nailed on the boxes, and they must 

 be placed in the storehouse or cellar. 



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