102 



at much less expense by constructing the fruit room in a cel- 

 lar. The object of building it above ground is to avoid the 

 "vvarmth and moisture arising from the earth, but I believe 

 that Avhen a cool, dry cellar, on the north side of a building, 

 can be obtained, it will answer every purpose so well that it 

 would not be worth while to incur the additional expense of 

 building above ground. It should be provided with ventila- 

 tors on the north side, but these should be opened only when 

 the air is cool and dry. The floor should be cemented to 

 avoid vermin. A cellar under a barn or other outbuilding 

 would be preferable to one under a dwelling-house ; or if 

 obliged to use the latter it should be rendered independent of 

 heat from above by a non-conducting top formed by one or 

 two thicknesses of lath and plaster, with air spaces between, 

 or by filling between the timbers with tan. Similar partitions 

 should separate it from other parts of the cellar. If circum- 

 stances necessitated a situation less dry than is desirable, this 

 might be remedied by tight lining of boards on the bottom 

 and sides, with air spaces of three or four inches between the 

 I'n^ng and the floor or walls, or the dampness could be re- 

 moved by the chloride of calcium. 



It will be found that some specimens of fruit will keep 

 much longer than others of the same variety ; those from an 

 old or unhealthy tree, or from a warm soil, will generally 

 ripen earlier than those grown on young and vigorous trees, 

 or on strong and colder soils. Before being finally placed in 

 the fruit room they should be carefully assorted, and those 

 likely to ripen first, deposited by themselves. A little experi- 

 ence will enable the cultivator to do this. There is a kind of 

 fungus having the appearance of black spots, which should be 

 especially thrown out, for it is contagious, spreading rapidly 

 in a warm barrel and communicating a bitter taste to the fruit. 

 It has been recommended to pick fruit only when cool, avoid- 

 ing the middle of the day, but this would reduce the working 

 time so as to cause great inconvenience where there is much 

 to be gathered, for all agree that it must not be picked with 



