IBS 
the COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, December 15, 1S57. 
for views or portraits. A double back (15s.) will 
be found useful. If, when farther, advanced in the 
art, the photographer wishes to produce larger 
pictures, he can obtain a complete camera .for pic¬ 
tures, eleven inches by nine inches, for £1 17s. 6d. ; 
and a single three-inch lens for same, for £4 10s.; 
extra double back £1 15s. 
For stereoscopic pictures a camera of different 
construction is desirable. A stereoscopic camera 
complete, with compound achromatic lens, can be 
obtained for three guineas. 
CAMERA STAND. 
The simplest form of construction is shown in 
the accompanying diagram, w is a triangle of 
wood one inch thick, 10”x 10" * 10", with the 
corners cut off. PP are pieces of wood 1" thick, 
each 2"x 1 |”. These are nailed to the under side 
of the triangle. Pins (p P) passing through them 
form pivots for the upper end of each leg (L) of 
the stand. 
Suitable tripod stands can be purchased. They 
are of ash, with metal ring at the top, and pro¬ 
vided with a binding screw for fixing the camera 
in windy weather. Price 18s.; with folding legs 
for portability, £1 10s. 
Head Rests for portrait-taking vary in price, 
from 2s. Gd. to* £3 3s. 
(To he continued.') 
HOW DO FRUITS KEEP? 
From many quarters we hear complaints of fruits 
keeping badly; and it seems a very general opinion, 
that the warm and kindly summer has been the occa¬ 
sion of it. Now, it is an awkward state of things that 
these very conditions, which are known to perfect the 
buds for the ensuing year, should be at the same time 
prejudicial' to the preservation of fruits ; but it would 
appear to be the case, and must necessarily lead many 
to examine the question, What influences the keeping 
of fruits ? 
Much, of course, depends on the aspect and climate 
the tree grows in ; much on the character of the spring 
and summer ; and something, perhaps, on the manage¬ 
ment of the tree; but still more has to be placed to 
the account of the fruit-room; and, probably, more 
still to the period in which the fruits were gathered. 
That climate lias much to do both with the quality 
and keeping of fruits there can be little doubt. 
As to quality, how often have those in northern 
counties been astonished to know that the Winter 
Nelis Pear was excellent from an ordinary standard; 
and the Beurre diet highly melting? I have grown 
the latter Pear for several years, both on standards 
and on walls ; but I never yet knew it melting, albeit 
very fair-flavoured. Some other Pears might be named 
as seldom first-rate in the north, and which are highly 
reported of in the south: and all this goes to prove 
that Pears love warmth and sunshine; at least, the 
chief of them. And not only sunshine on the fruits, 
but on the very buds for the ensuing year. 
As for the soil, I do not think that is much con¬ 
cerned in the present case, although it doubtless con¬ 
cerns the flavour, and assuredly the texture, of the 
flesh of fruits. But even this depends as much, in my 
opinion, on the mechanical character of the soil as on 
its qualities. The way in which soils hold moisture, 
and in which they part with it, is of immense import¬ 
ance as bearing on the character of fruits. 
As to modes of keeping, there can be no doubt that 
a cool and dry room is favourable to their long keep¬ 
ing ; but the misfortune is, that many of our best 
Pears become in such places a kind of petrifaction. I 
think there is no doubt that there is a period, keep 
them how we may, at which such fruits ought to be 
used—a period when they are better than ever they 
will be afterwards. 
There is, doubtless, a period in which they are fitter 
to gather than any other ; but this requires much 
observation to find out with regard to each kind. It 
is an old criterion as to fruit gathering, to judge by 
the colouring of the pips : but this, although a kind of 
clue, is by no means an infallible guide. It evidently 
proceeds on the assumption, that the flesh must at 
that period be in the most perfect state to house. But 
although the more saccharine condition commences 
about that period, it by no means follows that the 
fruit must keep the longest, and prove the more valu¬ 
able after keeping. I think that an over-ripe state of 
the pips is more likely to end in mealiness of flesh on 
long keeping, than its possessing that degree of liveli¬ 
ness which is so much esteemed in fruits. Let any one 
gather such Pears as the Easter Beurre under such 
circumstances, and it will be found that they will be, 
by the beginning of December, nearly as mealy as a 
