Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-07-09
farmers Department.
Gathering Fruit.

The appearance and value OF run
depend very much upon when anu
how it is gathered. Strawberries, II
picked carefully with half or quar-
ter of an inch of the stem attached TO
each berry, and laid carefully into
the basket, will carry better and sell
fer a greater price than when pulled
han hazard, some with hulls and
stems on and some with them off
Again, if they are gathered when
they are perfectly dry, they will
keep longer and retain better fla
vor than if gathered while wet. A
little water not only hastens decay,
but it rapidly destroys the flavor Of
many delicate soft varieties. AT
ter being gathered, they should never
be allowed to stand out exposed TO
the sun, as with many varlenes IL
takes but a little while OF exposure
to hot, clear sun to destroy tneir
brightness of coler.
Currants should also be gathered
with their stems; they should also be
dry. and all. leaves thrown cut.
Gooseberries, if for shipment, should
be gathered dry, and a careful expul-
sion of all leaves will cause them al
ways to command the best price.
Like the strawberries, care should
always be taken not to expose them
to hot sun after gathering, for such
exposure soon gives them the ap-
pearance Of being half cooked.
Raspberries and blackberries are
toe often seen in market and on the
table half broken and mashed.
None but. whole and perfect berries
should ever go into the box or bas
ket for market. 1t pays to carefully
assort them before sending to mar
ket, for the mingling of few bruis-
ed or mashed berries induces decay
and detracts from their value in the
judgment of the dealer.
Cherries should never be gathered
when otherwise than perfectly dry.
We have known them to decay en-
tirely in twenty-four hours when
gathered while wet. 1t pays also
with cherries for market to carefully
assert them over on table, picking
out any mashed or wormy or imper-
feet fruit before sending to market.
Of course the stems are, or always
should be, attached, although we
have occasionally seen them in mar
ket looking more like round cram
hprriae than cherries
Peaches should be left on the tree
until fully ripe, and then gathered
carefully with thumb and finger and
at once laid into the basket or box in
which they are to be marketed. If
the bloom is rubbed off the peach by
rough handling, ITS beauty of appear
anee is injured, and it will decay
much sooner than if untouched.
Formerly it was supposed that the
peach must be gathered before fully
ripe in order to ship it any distance;
but practical experience has proven
that ripe fruit, not quite soft, will
carry just as well as unripe, and COM
mand much better price.
Pears and apples should never be
picked from the tree by breaking the
stems. Unless the stem will seper-
ate freely from the tree, the fruit is
not ripe; 1t will neither eat nor cook
good, and is only fit for those who
want a touch of cholera morbus.
Apples, as soon as gathered, may be
sent direct to market; but nearly ev-
cry variety of pear is improved in ap-
pearance and quality by keeping in
close, dark drawers, wrapped in fan-
mel or soft paper, or packed in bran
a few days.
For profit, and in order to obtain
the highest price, all fruit pays to be
assorted into two or more grades.
A few scattering large berries, apples
or pears, in a quart or bushel, do not
assist in advancing the price; but if
carefully packed by themselves will
bring the highest price, and often
induce the dealer to buy the small
fruit in order to get the large.-TAe
HOrticulturist.