Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-09-22
farm, Gmaen& Aollsfhbitl,
KEEPING GRAPES.

Joseph Frost suggested that as there we're.
many fine specimens of we'll kept grapes on
the tables, it would be interesting to learn of
exhibitors how they had been kept. g
Pr. Perrinesa Of Dansyille, exhibited speea
linens of Catawbas and Fsabeas. Said: The
vines on which the grapes grew have borne
three years These grapes we're picked on
warm sunny day, when they were dry and
packed as picked, in boxes that hold fifteen
.sor twenty pounds each. These boxes are
made Of pine, so that they can be closed tight.
The covers are fastened on one side with
hinge aud tied with a string so that | think
the. boxes. are as stieht as they would be if
naileds The fruit has not been ovethanled
since picking. store in cool, dry cellar,
built with reference. to keeping fruit It's ses,.
sental they should be ripe in order to keep
well. thinkthe Caiawba Keeps better than
the Isabella -retains its favor better.
Barry.-In order to keep grapes well in a
fresh state, they must be ripe when picked
ihe fiper. the better they keep. ] have Isa-
hellas ia 1ns cellar as fresh as when taken
6msthe vine, NV Catawbas were not ripe,
aud although they look well they have no fla,
vor Thissexhibition of fresh grapes shows
wRat progress we make
Dr. Spence.-Two years ago | had fair
crop of grapes. As picked them, put them
instone jars, and after allowing them to sweat.
FeaIed them up by tying a paper over the
iaoath OF the jar and inverting it. in melted
wax. Then packed the Jars in buckwheat
ehaG, keptcooI, and they kept yeryI,iceiy. j
oreaed them next in April, and found !hc
stems as fine and fresh as when packed,
Iloom on the fruit, favor good-perGect. In
this way / have kept both Isabeilas and Ca
tawbas. never succeeded in keeping the
Delaware The Catawba is better keeper
than the Delaware, aud the Diana still better
ihan the Catawba. ! find it improves their
keeping qualities if the Diana and Catawba
are gathered little early.
Fiish.z4I have not been successful in my eff
forts to keep grapes. Have tried every means
haveseenr enreeomnendeda almost. Have suce
ceeded best by packing them in saw dust. Ar.
ranged for a few barrels of hard maple saw
dust, which baked dry, and in which pack
ed my grapes and kept closely in cool place;
but had not single bunch to bring with ME
to this meeting.
DR.. Perkins.-I picked some of my grapes
at the same time as those on the table, laid
hem in a grape room where they we're allow
ed to remain several days, when / assorted
and packed them. They did not keep so well
as those that were packed as picked.
Judge Larrowe.--It is not difficult to keep
grapes TIE fruit should be ripe if yon want
to keep it. We pick from the vine when dry,
and pack directly in crooks aud seal up We
put something usually small dry pine blocks
from one-halft to an inch in thickuess--in the
bottom of the jars to absorb the moisture. We
seal up tight and keep them in this way until
the succeeding July, when they win come out
of the jars with the stems green, bloom on
the fruit, and flavor as perfect as when put
mp. We seal the jars when we pack them
air tight, then set in as cool room as we
have in the house. When it gets cold so that
hey are hkelyto freeze, putin a cold cellar
But this is expensive comparatively, and I'M
necessary when the fruit is only to be kept for
winter use. Wepick into boxes, take directly
tothe grape house, and store in the racks un-
tilt is necessary to remove them on account
offrost. Then we pick them over pack in
boxes between layers and this way we keer
Catawba, Isabella and Diana until April with
out difficulty. Have never succeeded in kee1
ing Delawares. They are ike fall--you can
not keep them.
have ravar ad - 80. o-.,.
grapes pntil this year. They were packed il
larger boxes with about thickness of dr.
leaves around them. They come ou
now, perfectly fresh and Of good flavor /
this way keep Catawba, Isabella, Dina. an
Rebeeea ] wrapped each bunch of Del;
wares in tissue paper and packed in boxc
hkesthe rest, and they kept until week ag,
Thomas. There are three requisites essel
tial to keeping grapes we'll: l. You must q
them ripened. 2. Enough of them are nece
sary, so that they may not be consumed. g..
am satisfied too little attention is paid to Il
moisture in the room in which grapes al
kept. The amount of moisture in aroom wi
dtpend upon its situation, the manner
warming it, &c. 1t should be dry.
Il. n. Langworthy.--Almost all kinds
fruit viii keep longer if picked before tht
are dead ripe Here are specimens of Reb,
cas- that were not dead rpe-scarcely in es
ing order when picked. They were gather
before and exhibited at the meeting of t
American Pomological Society, at State al
other fairs, and they are sounder to-day tn
another sample here gathered a month late
The grapes left on late, however, though tn
do not keep SO well, are Of better fayof-a
yet those first gathered are very acceptabl
My theory is, concerning the relative keepiu
that the earlier picked have not fully matur
and have the power of maturing, and are 10
ger getting ripe and keep better. Here q
Rebeccas that were left on the vines as 10
as they WOULD hold on, and find they v
hold on until they freeze off.
DIR. Sylvester.--The remarks of Mr.. Thor
as eoneerningthe moisture in rooms, remin
me of some experience have had. 1 ha
a closet surrounded on all sides by 9th
rooms. There are shelves in it. In the u
per part Of tits a chimney which receivest
pipe from stoves in the adjoining rooms, tn
furnishing heat enough TO dry the air in t
closet. packed few bushels OF Isabel
in the market boxes and stored on the shell
in this closet last fall. They are now in go