PACKING ArPLES. 65 



vation. * * * * It more than paid for itself the 

 first season. In addition to an apple-house, I use it dur- 

 ing the summer months for milk and butter, vegetables 

 and fresh meats." 



Apples can be buried, something after the manner of 

 potatoes, with good success, but they usually decay rap- 

 iily after removal from the pit. They usually keep well 

 if buried after they are barreled, the barrels being laid 

 on dry ground and covered deeply with straw. As win- 

 ter sets in, cover the straw with earth, using just enough 

 to prevent freezing. In cities apples are often placed 

 in a cold attic and allowed to freeze for safe keeping. 

 If they remain frozen until spring, and arc then al- 

 lowed to thaw gradually by the natural rise in tempera- 

 ture, they will not be injured. It appears that all Avin- 

 ter varieties cannot be kept in this condition, however. 

 I have known apples to be frozen solid in the barrel, but 

 when placed in a cool cellar and not disturbed until the 

 frost had entirely left them, they came out as bright and 

 hard as ever, and kept as long as those of the same variety 

 which had not been frozen. 



