Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-08-06
.farmer's S Department.
Time to Gather and How to Keep Pears.

Time to Gather and How to Keep Pears
One of the most important points in The
management of pears, is to gather them al
the proper time. Summer pears should be
gathered at least tenldays before they are ripe
autumn pears at least a fortnight, and winter
as nearly as possible about the time the trees
stop growing II left on until the commence
ment of the fall of the leaf they are worth
less 4 pear rpcned on the tree is generally
not fit to be eaten The usual way to deter
mine when pears are fit to be taken in the
house to ripen, is to lift them up on the tree
if upon raising them up, they part readily
from the stalk, they can then be picked oil
Never shake down pears hand pick them all
standing on steps for the purpose. They
should be light, and so contrived that the lad
der NAV be disengaged from the back at pleas
urc fastening together by bolt at the top,
at the top should be broad step to stand on,
with room for basket to hold the fruit Have
in beginning to gather, hand hampers of differ
cnt sizes, and also large baskets, or hampers
and Wheelbarrows. At the bottoms of the
large baskets place some perfectly dry, short,
fine grass or hay, from the summer moving,
kept clean, and dry for the purpose. \ on can
also tell, as a mark when the fruit is ripe,
when it begins to fall-(not wind fall, or from
the caterpiller.) If the fruit comes off with
out any force used, it is presumed to be ripe
enough but sickness &c, of the trees may
make it seem ripper than in fact it is.
If the fruit be in the least bruised, it will
not keep; therefore the person on the steps
must pick it carefully, and lay it in the basket,
and empty the small baskets into the large.
When the fruit begins to fall itself, cover the
ground un er the tree with soft grass. Those
that drop should be used first, as they will not
keep near as long as those picked by hand.
In the fruit room lay soft grass the floor
and the fruit gently from the basket in heaps
on the grass To sweat the fruit, cover it
two or three inches thick on the top with some
oi the grass the heaps may be two or three
feet high. Let them lie in heaps two weeks
then open and turn them over, wiping each
pear with a dry cloth, to be frequently dried
during the process. The heaps then remain
eight or ten days more, covered as before, then
wipe the fruit and barrel or place them in bas-
ketS, as they will sell better in bushe baskets,
and they are then ready to be sent to market.
Always gather fruit in dry weather. and when
the dew is off, and not in the evening after
the dew has begun to fall Air should some
times be admitted in the fruit room.
Downing says May sorts of pears that
are comparatively tough if rpened in cold
apartment, become very melting, buttery,
aud juicy, when allowed to mature in room
kept at a temperature of 60 or 70 deg" lie
also writes SO important is the ripenng Of
pears i'll the house, that most amateurs Of this
fruit find it to their advantage to have a small
room set apart and fitted up with shelves in
tiers, to be used solely as a fruit room" Mr.
iIovey states " he keeps his winter pears as
he keeps his apples-in barrels in the cellar, =
and succeeds well Pears can be placed also
for preserving in tin boxes Winter pears will
generally sweat after the boxes have been fill
cd few days they should then be taken
out and wiped dry When the weather be
rumes cold, the boxes should he removed to Il
dry cellar | am convinced that pears will
rpcn better in dark closet than in light
room.
submit the above numerous ways Of keep
ing pears TO your subscribers, ard they cal
themselves decide this season which is the best
by giving all a fair trial. And the winter
yarities will come very acceptable to the New
lcar visitors at your homes, and form splcn
did dish Oh the holiday festive board T. S c
Clcrmont y. l.-Country Gentleman, July