Keeping Fruit After Picking. 397 
the idea seems to have originated with Uriah Hair, 
of the same place. 
After fruit is picked, it is very important that it 
should be kept cool and away from the direct sun. 
This is particularly important with the soft and 
berry-like fruits, like grapes, strawberries, cherries 
and peaches. The fruits not only ripen up rapidly 
after they are picked if the sun strikes them, but 
they may also become so warm that they will not 
withstand shipment. It is ordinarily best to pick the 
perishable fruits early in the morning, if they are 
dry, and then to pack them up tight and send them 
directly to the railway station; or, if they have be- 
come too warm, or if it is desired to delay the ship- 
ment, then they should be put in the cellar or a 
cold storage in order to reduce them to a low tem- 
perature. If the soft fruits, lke strawberries and 
raspberries, are treated in this way, they will ordi- 
narily endure shipment best if they are sent in tight, 
unventilated crates. Apples ripen up very rapidly im 
the pile if they are exposed directly to the rays of 
the sun. It is always well, therefore, if they are 
piled in the field, to place them on the shady side of 
the tree, if possible; but, no doubt, the very best 
results in long-keeping qualities are obtained when 
the apples are taken directly from the trees to a cool 
room and there kept in storage, where the ripening 
process is wholly or partially checked. This is espe- 
cially important if they are to be shipped long dis- 
tances, and particularly if they are to be exported. If 
the weather is cool and somewhat dull at the picking 
