242 
THE ELORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
the trees till sufficiently ripe to fall of their own accord are much 
too ripe for preserving for any length of time. Some fruits, such 
as peaches, plums, etc., will not keep over a day or two ; and the 
flavour of the fruit thus allowed to fall will be much deteriorated. 
There are certain criteria, by which we may know with great 
nicety when fruit is in a proper state for gathering. Most fruits, 
such as peaches, pears, and plums, part freely from the tree when 
ripe. Plums should be handled in the most careful manner, other- 
wise the bloom will be rubbed off them. When this is the case, a 
little fine flour should be carefully dusted over them, but with the 
greatest delicacy. Apricots should be gathered when the side next 
the sun feels soft, which may be ascertained by a gentle pressure 
with the finger. This fruit adheres firmly to the trees, and would, 
if not gathered, remain until it was over-ripe, and had become mealy. 
Peaches, nectarines, apples, and pears, fall of their own accord 
when fully ripe ; but they should never be allowed to do so, for 
reasons before stated. The best plan is to gather all fruits, with 
the exception of stone-fruit, sometime previous to their arriving at 
maturity, to place them in a warm room to accelerate their ripening, 
if they are required for immediate use. A good criterion with 
apples and pears is to cut up a fruit of average ripeness, and if the 
seeds have acquired a brown or black colour, they are in a fit state 
for gathering ; but if they remain white, the fruit is not ripe, and 
should remain sometime longer on the trees, even supposing a slight 
frost should intervene. Some sorts of pears and apples which have 
had a slight touch of frost are not injured by it ; on the contrary, 
they will be found to have acquired a fine flavour. If severe frost 
should set in before the late sorts of apples and pears on the walls 
(which in some cold and unfavourable climates will be the case) 
have arrived at proper maturity for gathering, they should be 
covered by suspending canvas or bunting in front of them. Having 
procured the proper materials, and cut or sewed them into con- 
venient lengths, they should then be fastened on the top of the walls 
by means of hooks and eyes of sufficient strength, and to pegs 
driven into the ground at two or three feet from the wall; this 
covering should always be taken off during the middle of the day, 
and replaced in the evening ; by this means they can be allowed to 
remain on the trees much longer, free from frost. If apples have 
been pitted in the manner previously recommended, and if very 
severe frost should occur, the pit should on no account be opened 
if there is the least suspicion that the frost has reached them ; if it 
is opened, air will enter, and the consequence will be the entire loss 
of the fruit. When the frost has disappeared the pit maybe opened 
with safety. 
Cherries. — This fruit should be gathered when quite ripe. I, 
however, would recommend a portion of them to be gathered before 
being quite ripe, and if required for immediate use, they should be 
suspended over a hothouse flue in a basket in order to accelerate 
their ripening. The remainder may be kept in air-tight tin cases, 
of a broad and flat form, packed in a little fine dry charcoal, beech- 
flowers, or bran, until they are required for use. 
