265 FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION. 



General Hints. The average temperature of a fruit 

 store should be 40 to 45 deg. Never allow it to fall 

 lower than 40 deg. ; otherwise Pears will lose their 

 flavour. Store the fruit in single layers, and, as far as 

 possible, keep the early, mid-season, and late kinds by 

 themselves. Never store fruit on straw or hay, as these 

 substances impair the flavour of the fruit. Examine the 

 fruit daily, and remove all decayed ones. The presence 

 of one decayed fruit in a store often sets up decay in 

 others, besides affecting their flavour. The ripening 



Fig. 125. DOOR FOR SPAN-ROOF FRUIT ROOM. 



The upper half is fitted with a wire frame and shutter for the purpose of 

 admitting: air occasionally in fine weather. 



period of Pears may be hastened by placing a few in bran 

 in tin boxes, and storing them in a warm cupboard or 

 room for a few days. 



Other methods of storing fruit are placing them in 

 unglazed earthenware jars with a movable lid, and storing 

 them in a cool room or cellar; packing them in tissue 

 paper and storing in dry sand ; and placing them in clean, 

 sweet barrels in a dark, cool place. The worst of all 

 places in which to store Apples is a dry loft or room. All 



