THE APPLE. 



29 



branch on being grasped by the hand. Fruit that requires 

 to be twisted or pulled hard from the branch is not fully 

 ripe. Gather the fruit only in dry weather, and place 

 carefully into the basket or tray so as not to bruise the 

 skin. Apples should always be stored in a cool, damp 

 place, not in hot, dry positions. Cellars or outhouses, 

 where there is no risk of frost entering, are the best store 

 places for apples. They will keep very well in boxes or 

 barrels ; but choice sorts are best stored in single layers 

 on open trays, such as Orr's, these being placed one on 



Fig. 12. 



CLUSTER OF APPLES 

 UNTHINNED. 



Fig. 13. CLUSTER OF APPLES THINNED. 



the other so as to form a kind of nest. Dry cupboards 

 or rooms are unsuitable, as they cause the fruit to shrivel. 

 Fruit rooms specially constructed, and described else- 

 where, are, of course, the best positions for storing 

 fruit. 



Pests. The chief pests that do damage to the apple 

 are the Codlin, Winter, March, Mottled Umber, Brown 

 Tail, Small Ermine, Pith, Bud, Lackey, and Tortrix Moth 

 Caterpillars ; Apple Blossom Weevil ; Apple Sawfly ; Apple 

 and Woolly Aphis (American Blight); Apple Sucker; and 



