516 WISCONSIN FRUIT-GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
because about that time we are often visited with violent storms 
of wind and rain, that beat the finest specimens to the ground, 
and because the opening of our fall business brings so many 
strangers, workmen, and others into the grounds. Gathering 
at this time, we find it somewhat difficult to prevent them from 
ripening before the time when they are most needed and most 
valuable. The best way, we find, to retard them is to put 
them in very small boxes or jars, or in thin layers on shelves, 
in a dark, cold room—say a deep, dry cellar on the north side 
of a building. The best time to gather is after the warm, au¬ 
tumn weather has passed—say middle of October—both in 
Western New York and, I should say, in Wisconsin ; the main 
point being to have them out of the way of sharp frosts. 
2d. How to G-ather .—Every specimen intended for long 
keeping, should be picked by hand, one by one, seizing 
the stalk and lifting it upwards, to separate it from the 
branch. I would as soon allow my trees to be broken as the 
stalks of the fruit. As they are picked, they should be laid 
gently in baskets, in which they can be carried to the barn- 
floor, or some convenient similar place, to be assorted for stor¬ 
age. 
8d. IIow to assort them .—Put all sound and perfect speci¬ 
mens by themselves, for keeping ; and all imperfect ones, wind¬ 
falls, &c., that will either ripen or decay soon, separately, for 
early use. This is of great importance, because one decaying 
specimen will, in a few days, affect a whole box full. 
9 
4th. Storing them away .—We find that when put up in bar¬ 
rels, or half-barrels even, they will ripen quickly during, the 
mild weather of autumn and early winter, even in the coldest 
cellar. It is, therefore, necessary to put them in very small 
boxes or jars—say a peck or less in each—or else spread them 
on shelves in the coldest place, not below 40°, that can be had. 
Nurserymen who have but a few specimens of each, may keep 
