1868 . ] 
THE HOT DRY SEASON OF 1868 . 
233 
much according to sorts and seasons. When housed the fruit must not be 
laid too thickly, but should undergo the first sweating with full exposure to 
light and air; in fact, when properly performed this first sweating will be 
the final one; while to sweat the fruit dry thus quickly, will materially 
enhance both its flavour and appearance, and admit of its being placed more 
thickly, if need be, afterwards. Fruit gathered at the “ nick of time,” and 
thus treated, if tested by the side of other fruit allowed to remain longer 
upon the trees in the humid weather of autumn, will be found to be speck¬ 
less in comparison. 
Such sorts as Court Pendu Plat, the Gooseberry Apple, and Stunner 
Pippin, which require to hang to the last, should always be fully exposed to 
the full light of sun and air, though sheltered from superficial rains, for a 
week or so before ultimate storing takes place. This is the more needful 
where the now very general plan of keeping fruit rooms dark and airless is 
pursued. To allow fruit to sweat in a close air-tight room, is to permit its 
unwholesome exudations to become attached to its whole exterior surface, 
and these are not readily removed by the process of wiping with dry cloths 
often resorted to ; while certainly such a practice is altogether at variance 
with that provision for perfect sweetness and cleanliness, which are so ne¬ 
cessary to the keeping of all substances liable to decay, fruit more especially. 
Digsivell. William Earley. 
THE HOT DRY SEASON OF 1868 . 
@ HE weather during the past month has produced a marvellous change 
on the face of Nature. Previous to that, the extreme heat and 
f drought had converted the parks and meadows into a brown and 
arid waste ; now, the welcome rains have revivified them, and as I 
anticipated, have had a very beneficial effect upon the late fruits 
Apples and Pears especially, have grown out far beyond what they promised 
at one time. The high winds on the 22nd of August blew down many thou¬ 
sand bushels in this locality. 
The effect of the season on the growth of fruit trees is very favourable 
indeed. Trained trees are looking very healthy, and the wood is ripening 
off well, while the growth of the trees in the open quarters is unusually 
short, stocky, and fruitful-looking, and those who have kept the young 
shoots judiciously thinned out will find an unusual supply of well-ripened 
wood. I say judiciously thinned, because I am more than ever convinced 
that we very often overdo this, thinning out and defoliating too much. 
I acknowledge the great benefit to be derived from the practice as a correc¬ 
tive of excessive luxuriance, by its indirect action on the roots, but at the 
same time I feel sure that an abundant foliage is absolutely necessary to the 
perfect development and maturity of the fruit. Peaches and Apricots may 
