26 Ripening the Pear as an Article of Commerce. 



P. S. — Since the above was written I have ripened nearly- 

 all my winter specimens of pears. The specimens which 

 were matured in a close desk, the temperature of the room 

 being kept from 60 to 70 degrees of heat during the day 

 and 50 to 55 during the night, were all very much superior 

 to those which matured in a room of lower temperature. 

 I am under the impression that if all the winter varieties 

 of pears were kept (to ripen) in tight drawers or boxes 

 Avith covers, (tin boxes* with close covers I think would 

 be preferable,) where each specimen could be kept in an 

 upright position, and the temperature of the room kept up 

 to 65 degrees of heat, day and night, that the flavor Avould 

 be very much improved. I would further suggest, that all 

 the winter varieties of pears should be removed from the 

 cold fruit room, about three weeks before the usual period 

 of maturity ; or, in other words, three weeks before the 

 specimens begin to mellow. After the fruit is placed into 

 the drawers or boxes, it should be handled as little as pos- 

 sible, and when ripe, or nearly ripe, always by the stem. 

 If the fruit is to be transported any distance, say only an 

 eighth of a mile, after it is perfectly ripe, it should be 

 carefully packed in cotton or other very soft material, as 

 all the yellow skinned varieties are very much injured in 

 their appearance if they come in contact with any hard 

 substance. Ripe pears lose from 50 to 75 per cent, of their 

 value in the market by being chafed, though it be but 

 slightly. 



Time, Mr. Editor, and further improvements by our 

 fruit-loving cultivators, will no doubt throw further light 

 on this subject. I submit these few remarks as hints, I 

 trust they will be received by your readers as such ; and if 

 any of your correspondents have any information on the 

 subject matter of this communication, I hope they will 

 let us have it. We want more light. Let it come from 

 the east and the west, from the north and the south — 

 light — we want light ! S. W. 



Roxhury, Dec. 1843. 



* A French writer of some eminence, M. Loiseleiir Deslongchamps, 

 n the Memorial Encyclopidique. for 1838, has recommended zinc boxes. — 

 Ed. 



