Memoirs of the Caledonian Horticultural Society. 191 



and taken to the fruit-room in shallow baskets. These are 

 taken singly out of the baskets, and placed upon the shelves. 



" After the apples have been ten or twelve days on the 

 shelves, the process of sweating is considered as accomplished. 

 They are then wiped one by one with clean soft cloths ; by 

 this means a kind of coat or shell is formed, which proves a 

 safeguard to the fruit. The shelves are wiped at the same 

 time on both sides until quite dry. During the whole time 

 the apples are in sweat, plenty of air is admitted, if the wea- 

 ther is clear and dry ; but, if damp, the room is entirely shut 

 up. I think it is when the apples are sweating that they im- 

 bibe the flavour of whatever materials they are laid upon; 

 and, if due attention is given to them at that time, there is 

 little chance of their afterwards acquiring any bad taste." 



The fruit is turned over about the end of January, and, 

 with the shelves, wiped, if any moisture appears. After this 

 time the room is closely shut up ; for the admission of much 

 air, after the end of January, is found to occasion shrivelling. 

 All the time the fruit is in the room it is carefully looked 

 over every four or five days ; and in the month of August it is 

 handled with gloves, the hands of gardeners being generally 

 moist at that season. When apples are frozen, no artificial 

 means must be used to thaw them. If, when in sweating, 

 they are affected by the frost or damp, they will be materially 

 injured. 



" I have gathered apples, and laid them upon one another 

 in large baskets in a vinery, kept up to about 60° Fahr., for 

 ten days or a fortnight : they were then covered with sweat. 

 I had them wiped, conveyed to the fruit-room, and laid on the 

 shelves, as already described. I have never found the flavour 

 of apples treated in this way to be in the least impaired." 



An extra-medal was awarded to Mr. Oliver for this paper. 



29. On preparing a light Garden Soil Jbr Carrots and for Onions. 

 By Mr. Peter Campbell, Gardener to James Hamilton, Esq., of 

 Bangour, Coalston, near Haddington. Read March 6. 1828. 



The carrots on this light soil had been pierced to the heart 

 by white maggots or worms, which no application had been 

 found to destroy. Recourse was had to the plan of trench- 

 ing in a mixture of old turf and quicklime, at the rate of 80 

 loads per acre ; and on this the carrots " grew as good as 

 could be wished for, and free of any insect." 



Mr. Campbell takes up his carrots in dry weather in Oc- 

 tober ; cuts off about half an inch of the carrots along with 

 the tops, so as to, prevent them from springing; as, when they 

 spring, it takes away both the substance and the flavour of 



