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Failing in these outward indications of ripeness, the 

 gardener has only to cut open a single fruit, and if 

 the seeds appear of a black or brownish colour, it is 

 fit to gather ; but if they are not coloured, then the 

 fruit should be allowed to hang some time longer, be- 

 cause, if gathered prematurely, it will very soon after- 

 wards shrivel, and never acquire that flavour, or keep 

 so well under the most favourable circumstances, as 

 when it is suffered to remain on the tree until it is 

 thoroughly matured. In no case should fruit be 

 shaken from the tree, as we too frequently see it done ; 

 on the contrary, it ought to be all hand-picked when 

 perfectly dry, and treated with the utmost care, to 

 avoid bruising. When transferred from the basket 

 in which it is gathered, to the place where it is finally 

 to remain, the fruit should, if possible, be arranged 

 side by side, with its eye downwards. (Gard. Chron. 

 1841, 644.) 



Gathering is a point to which more than ordinary 

 importance attaches, for the fruit should be plucked 

 exactly at the time when it has arrived at a fit condi- 

 tion. This remark applies more particularly to those 

 kinds which ripen in early autumn, and do not keep, 

 perhaps, more than two or three months; and this can 

 only be determined by careful and frequent examination s . 

 The too frequent practice of waiting until the fruit 

 begins to drop is best avoided, and it is equally bad to 

 gather before the fruit becomes properly matured ; in 

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