AUG.] TRAINING, &C. 251 



gathered, namely, in order that their shoots, which 

 are to produce the next year's crop, may be perfect- 

 ly ripened and matured. If otherwise, the flowers 

 will be weak, few, and the fruit in consequence will 

 be scanty. 



Of gathering Stone-Fruits. 



It is a common thing to let these fruits drop of 

 their own accord, when ripe ; and that they may 

 sustain little injury in falling, the borders at the 

 bottom of the wall are covered with moss, or nets 

 are suspended so as to catch them. But it is a bet- 

 ter practice to pull, than to let them drop, not only 

 to save them from all blemish, but that they may be 

 eaten in higher perfection. Let any one pull and eat 

 an apricot, or a peach, from a shoot on which there 

 is another equally ripe, one or two days before it 

 would have dropped ; allow the other to drop off, 

 eat it, and make the comparison. In fine, all kinds 

 of stone-fruit fall off in flavour, if suffered to fall off 

 from the tree. 



In arguing thus, I have been asked, how I knew 

 when to pull ? as it is improper to handle or feel 

 them, especially the finer apricots and peaches. It 

 no doubt requires some practice, and a knowledge 

 of the kinds, to be able to judge at sight. But there 

 is a simple method, which I w r ould advise even the 

 best judges to practise, on which I stumbled by ac- 

 cident. The instrument I first used was more rude 

 than the one I shall recommend, being no other 

 than a tin watering funnel, used for watering stage 

 plants. 



