106 GATHERING AND PRESERVING APPLES. 



mice-eaten and moss-covered trees, caused by neg- 

 lect, and the growth of weeds and grass ; and the 

 other, the vigorous and thrifty growth, and the 

 fair and abundant crops, resulting from fine and 

 clean culture ; none could fail to be satisfied of the 

 superiority of the one and impolicy of the other. 



GATHERING AND PRESERVING. 



It is of great consequence ingathering all kinds 

 of fine fruit, to avoid bruising ; the high quality of 

 some sorts is nearly destroyed by carelessness in 

 gathering, and they are rendered unfit for home 

 use or for market. Hence careful hand-picking 

 becomes indispensible. 



Preserving in barrels is usually most convenient. 

 They should be filled sufficiently to cause a 

 slight pressure when the barrel head is put in, to 

 prevent rattling ; and the barrels should rest on 

 their sides and not on the ends. Winter fruit has 

 been preserved with great success and with much 

 freshness, by alternating the layers of apples in the 

 barrel with layers of dry chafT mixed with a small 

 portion of dry pulverized lime. Apples may be 

 well kept till spring, if buried late in autumn ; but 

 to prevent swelling, cracking, and a loss of flavor, 

 they should be placed in a box or on a bed of straw, 

 and entirely excluded from contact with the damp 

 earth. Where cool cellars are at hand, they are 

 kept best for winter use on large shelves. 



