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in paper ; and the heads of the casks put in and 

 made secure with plaster-of-Paris. When opened in 

 March every apple was quite rotten. Apples always 

 perspire more or less, and a little air now and then is 

 useful, and helps to preserve them ; but they should 

 on no account be handled in frosty weather. It is 

 thought by most gardeners that apples will not keep 

 unless gathered when dry ; but about eight years ago, 

 during a wet season, he had a large quantity gathered 

 when it rained hard — laid them on a floor which was 

 covered with straw ; the next day being fine, had 

 more gathered in a dry state, which he laid near the 

 others ; and found that both kept equally well ; for 

 the wet ones soon became dry, and the others per- 

 spired. Since then he does not mind their being 

 gathered wet, nor does he wait till the dew gets of! 

 before he gathers them. Of course he prefers gather- 

 ing when the trees are dry. (Gard. Chron. 1842, 

 588.) 



Mr. C. Harrison, F.H.S., has some remarks all 

 tending to prove that coldness rather than dryness is 

 most essential for the preservation of this fruit. In 

 winter, he says, if the weather is clear and frosty, the 

 windows or ventilators should be kept open several 

 hours each day ; but when the weather is damp, they 

 are to be kept entirely shut ; and no fire should ever 

 be used in the fruit-room, as it always causes a damp 

 to arise, which does infinite injury to the fruit. Frost 



