Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-10-17
Care in Gathering Apples.

In gathering apples, care must be exercisr
ed towards two things-the fruit itself, and
the tree that produces it. There has been
marked improvement in packing epples,
during the past few years; but the opera
ton is too often bungliugly performed, even
now. The skin of most apples is sufficiently
strong to protect the fruit it covers, for n
considerable time, if it remains uninjured.
BuS any puncture it receives, or any bruise,
however slight, is certain to invite decay.
Besides this, the appearance of the apples is
very much injured by careass handling. even
when they are to be used soon after being
picked. The red colored apples receive less
injury in this respect than those which are
white or yellow; but even these are good
deal disfgurcd.
No agples, if we excep. those intended fof
cider. should ever be allowed to fall upon
the ground, but should he picked from the
tree, each specimen separately, carefully
placed in basket, and in that manner taken
to the barrel. For some delicate varieties,
like the Northern Spy, the basket should he
lined with flannel, or have coating of soft
moss or wiltcG grass. Similar care must be
exercised in packing such delicate fruits into
/ the barrels and in taking them to the cellar.
/ Apples should never be picked in other
| than a dry day, commencing after the dew
| has dried off in the morning, and closing be-
| fore it commences to fall at night. Many
orchards prefer to place their apples in
heaps unprotected or covered with straw, to
undergo a sort Of sweating process for few
days previous to putting them into barrels :;
but apples are bound to keep equally we'll
when put Immediately into barrels, though
it may be preferable, in the case of some few
varieties, to leave them unheaded for a few
weeks previous to storing them away. Plac-
them in layers will save space, and will pre-
vent their getting bruised by moving about
in the barrel. 1t is always best to store ap'
piles in room that is both cool and dry &
building above ground is best for the pur'
pose, till the weather becomes too severe for
safety. When it is desirable to insure the
keeping of apples for considerable time
they should be wrapped in soft paper, after
the manner of oranges.
But it is quite as necessary TO see that the
tree receives no injury at the time of the ap-
pie picking, as it is to look out for the safety
of the fruit. Many fine trees are annually
! injured by mounting the bark by the heel,
or by bracing ladders against it. Nor is it
a rare thing to see tree heaten with clubs,
pelted with stones, or lashed with sapiugs.
| Another great injury which trees receive, is
that Of breaking of portion of the fruit
stem with the apple, thereby diminishing
the fruit prospects for another year. The
apple should he divided from the twig OF
which it is produced, at exactly the point at
which it would seperate, it it was left to faI
from excess of ripeness. ff 1T does not part
their readily, the thumb and finger should
aid the separation at the proper point for
if the stem is pulled ont of the apple, it il
almost certain to immediately commence to
| decay.-Idririe Farmer.