288 A TREATISE OF 



After the pears are gathered, lay them 

 on heaps in the fruitery, and cover them 

 with woollen cloths -, this will caufe them 

 to perfpire, which will be received by the 

 cloths. No time can be limited for their 

 continuance in the couch, for fome kinds 

 require more than others -, but when the 

 greatefl fv^eat is over, it is then proper to 

 take them out, and rub them one by one 

 with dry linen cloths , after this the au- 

 tumn kinds muft be divided, every fort into 

 two parcels, the largeft from the fmalleft, 

 for it is a pity that one of the latter 

 fhould damage the former by rotting a- 

 mongft them ; and then lay them in fmgle 

 layers, and not one upon another, whereby 

 the ripeft may be more eafily diftinguifhed 

 and taken for ufe firft, without handling 

 the others ; and when any are rotten, they 

 muft be picked out as foon as difcovered, 

 otherwife they will decay thofe that touch 

 them. 



After winter pears have been couched, 

 dried, and divided as the former, the beft 

 of them muft be divided a fecond time, that 

 one half of the largeft may be kept longer 

 than the others, which is to be done by the 



5 fol- 



