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as it ripens. The direction commonly given for gathering 

 summer fruit has been to pick when it could be detached by 

 merely lifting, but if we follow this rule our fruit will remain 

 on the tree too long ; it should be gathered as soon as it can 

 be perceived that its hold on the branch is loosened. The 

 flavor and color are brought out best when a considerable 

 quantity is ripened together and in darkness and exclusion 

 from the air, and the ripening is hastened by warmth and re- 

 tarded by cold. The difference between pears ripened in the 

 house and on the tree is so well stated by Mr. Barry that I 

 quote his words: — "The process of ripening on the tree, 

 which is the natural one, seems to act upon the fruit for the 

 benefit of the seed, as it tends to the formation of woody 

 fibre and farina. When the fruit is removed from the tree 

 at the very commencement of ripening, and placed in a still 

 atmosphere, the natural process seems to be counteracted, and 

 sugar and juice are elaborated instead of fibre and farina. 

 Thus pears that become mealy and rot at the core when left 

 on the tree to ripen, and are pronounced worthless, become 

 juicy, melting, and delicious when ripened in the house." 

 The jformation of woody fibre is especially noticeable in the 

 Paradise d'Automne and Onondaga pears when left too long 

 on the tree. 



The majority of apples are better house-ripened, but the 

 Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Williams' Favorite, and Grav- 

 enstein should be allowed to hang on the tree until they drop. 

 Early peaches, to be in perfection, must be ripened on the 

 tree ; but the later kinds, ripening after the twenty-fifth of 

 September, may be picked without injury, but rather benefit, 

 a week or ten days before ripening ; and some kinds, which 

 are apt to be dry and pasty, are improved as much as pears. 



To sum up as concisely as possible the conditions necessary 

 for the preservation of fruit, they are — well grown, sound 

 specimens, uniform exclusion of light, air, and moisture, and 

 as low a temperature as possible without freezing. The sim- 

 plest method of fulfilling these conditions is the best. 

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