preserving, and packing Fruits. 37 



the small end of the powder-puff (6). The slides of this box 

 are about six inches apart, and are put in and drawn out 

 through the end of the box (gg) ; these slides are four in 

 number, two of fine wire in a wooden frame, and two of plain 

 deal boards. Both the wire slides are used together when the 

 greatest number of fruit is to be bloomed at one time, and in 

 the ordinary way ; but when fruit is to be bloomed in the most 

 delicate manner, the plain board is used for the lower slide, 

 but so far drawn out as to leave an opening at the farther end 

 (/?), by which means only the very finest of the powder can 

 rise in the air, so as to surround and be deposited on the fruit 

 placed on the upper wire slide (i). 



Whenever a leash of cucumbers are to have their bloom 

 repaired, all that is necessary is to place them on the wire 

 slide ; and, having charged the puff with powdered magnesia, 

 rendered as fine as possible by passing it through gauze, to 

 apply it to the hole, and, while working it with one hand, to 

 turn round the brush-cylinder with the other. 



After a few strokes, the box will be filled with a fine cloud 

 of powder, the grosser particles of which will fall to the bot- 

 tom, while the finer will be deposited on every part of the 

 fruit. Two or three applications of the puff, at intervals of an 

 hour, will in general be sufficient ; but to have the bloom in 

 the highest degree of delicacy, the fruit should remain all 

 night in the box. In the intervals of working the puff, the 

 plug is inserted in the puff-hole. 



Cucumbers so bloomed may be packed and sent to any 

 distance, without the slightest injury, by the following pro- 

 cess : — Procure a box one inch longer than the fruit to be 

 packed, two and a half inches deep, and six inches in width. 

 Provide a few strips similar to those used in the operation of 

 straightening, and pack the cucumbers with them upon a false 

 bottom, prepared with holes at each end for the pegs. Any 

 quantity of fruit may be safely sent in one box, by extending 

 its size, packing the fruit, tier upon tier, on false bottoms, and 

 keeping each fruit apart by strips and pegs. 



Where prickles are to be added to cucumbers, it ought to 

 be done before the bloom is given ; different sorts of cucumbers, 

 and the same sorts in different seasons, differ so much in 

 regard to prickles, that recourse is often obliged to be had to 

 art, in order to procure for show a leash beautifully and regularly 

 furnished with this characteristic appendage. Even when a 

 gardener can select his fruit from fifteen or twenty lights, it is 

 often difficult to procure a leash that will match in the size 

 and arrangement of their prickles. 



d 3 



