68 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



right varieties, by careful selection, and by the best 

 packing, good prices are realised in our markets for 

 excellent fruits. The utmost care is needed in gathering 

 Pears that have to be packed or kept for some time 

 before they are exposed for sale, as the slightest bruise is 

 soon developed either into an objectionable spot, or the 

 still more disastrous commencement of decay. Varieties 

 employed for cooking purposes are not so easily 

 damaged in the gathering or in transit, but they are 

 worthy of the little trouble involved in the avoidance of 

 bruises. They can be taken from the trees at any time 

 when fully developed. 



Apples constitute an important crop, covering a long 

 season of supply, and the varieties equally meet the two 

 great divisions of popular demand, namely, for cooking 

 and eating. Every preceding remark concerning care 

 in the gathering applies to these fruits with equal force, 

 but, unfortunately, this essential attention is frequently 

 neglected, or such quantities of damaged fruits would 

 not be seen in the British markets from home growers. 

 All early Apples should be gathered as soon as they 

 have reached their average size and the eating varieties 

 are coloured. But well-developed samples are needed 

 for cooking purposes, and though, if supplies are short, 

 growers often gather their earliest fruits when little 

 more than half their full size, it is a question if much is 

 gained by the practice unless the prices are exceedingly 

 high. If the object is to relieve young trees of their 

 crop in order that good growth may be made, it is 

 another matter, and the course is a wise one to take. 

 When also such varieties as Lord Grosvenor set a large 

 number of fruits that are too thickly placed on the 

 branches to develop properly, thinning becomes 

 necessary, and the fruits thus removed are often saleable, 

 if not too small, while those left on the trees will 

 advance rapidly to good size. 



