330 



THE ORCHARD. 



the seeds have become of a dark colour, in 

 some sorts they are nearly black, and in 

 others brown. When a fruit or two drops 

 naturally off, it is a sufficient intimation that 

 the greater part of it is in a proper condition 

 to be gathered. Always let the fruit be ga- 

 thered when dry, and keep each kind that is 

 to be preserved, separate to itself. 



A fruit room ought always to be dry and 

 airy, and it is very serviceable to have shelves 

 fixed up round the room; they should be 

 made so that the bottom be composed of 

 bars, and spaces be left to admit the air un- 

 derneath; also to have an upright front 

 board so that each shelf may be eight inches 

 deep inside, their breadth may be as desired. 

 Tiers of such shelves may be erected one 

 above another. When the fruit is brought 

 to the room, let it be laid in heaps upon 

 some clean dry straw, and afterwards be co- 

 vered with dry straw or matts. It must re- 

 main in this state for a fortnight, when it 

 will generally have sweat well, after which, 

 each fruit must be dried with a flannel and 

 be laid upon the shelves, before the fruit is 

 placed on the shelves, there must be two or 

 three inches thick of clean straight wheat 

 straw spread, upon which the fruit must be 

 placed. If there be a sufficient quantity of 

 shelves, so that the fruit may be laid singly, 

 it should be done so; but if not a sufficiency 

 of shelves to admit of it being so placed, it 



