310 OF GATHERING APPLES AND PEARS. 



heaps are completed, cover the tops at least twa 

 inches thick with short grass, in order to sweat 

 them. Let them lie a fortnight, then open the 

 heaps and tui'n them over, wiping each Apple or 

 Pear with a dry w^oollen cloth, which should be 

 frequently dried during the process, observing now 

 to lay in the middle the fruit which before was at 

 the top. Let the heaps now remain eight or ten 

 days, covered as before ; by that time they will 

 have thrown out the watery crudities which they 

 may have imbibed during a wet season ; then un- 

 cover the heaps, and wipe the fruit carefully one 

 by one, as before, picking out every one that is 

 injured, or has the least spot, as unfit for keeping. 



Fruit should be gathered, if possible, in dry 

 weather, and when the dew is exhaled from oif 

 the trees ; and remember never to gather in the 

 evening after the dew begins to fall. 



During the time that the fruit is sweating, the 

 windows should be left open, except in wet and 

 foggy weather, to admit the air to carry off the 

 moisture which perspires from the fruit. The per- 

 spiration will sometimes be so great, that on putting 

 your hand into the heap, it will come out as wet as 

 if it had been dipped into a pail of water : when 

 in this state it will be necessary to turn and wipe 

 the fruit. 



In laying up fruit, the common practice has 

 been to lay it on glean wheat-straw ; but I find by 

 experience, that when any of the fruit begins to 

 decay, if it be not immediately picked out, the 



