974 



Gardening for Amateurs 



of care and judgment exercised in gathering. 

 In addition to this, however, the fruit must 

 be in the right condition. One of the best 

 tests for ascertaining whether the Apples 

 or Pears are in a fit state for gathering is to 

 lift several average specimens in various 

 parts of the tree into a horizontal position ; 

 if they part easily from the tree without 

 being pulled it is invariably safe to pluck 

 them. Another test is to cut open two or 

 three fruits and examine the pips. If they 

 are brown in colour gathering may proceed, 

 but should the pips be white the work 



must be deferred. A fine bright afternoon 

 is the best time to gather, as it is most im- 

 portant that the fruit should be quite dry. 

 The baskets used to receive the fruit ought to 

 be lined with hay or other suitable material 

 to prevent bruising, whilst specimens which 

 have been pecked by birds or eaten by wasps, 

 or are otherwise damaged or unsound, should 

 be separated from the remainder, as they 

 are of no use for storing purposes. 



The Store Room. A cool, airy room or 

 building which is frost and rain proof and 

 has a north aspect forms an excellent place 



Fig. 2. The fruit is Fig. 4 Barrel con- Fig. 1. Canvas bag on long Fig. 3. A con- 

 raised gently when taining apples : it handle for gathering venient form 



being gathered. 



is raised on bricks. 



fruit. 



of ladder. 



Fig. 4. Apples stored in box raised on bricks 



Fig. 6. Shallow trays with lath 

 bottoms. 



Fig. 7. Wrong way to store fruit: Straw 

 ought not to be used tor lining boxes 

 or shelves. 



