Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-15
agricultural.
Gathering and Packing Fruit.

Fruit growers lose much money every
year By employing careless or reckless
persons TO gather fruit, for not only Is the
fruit damaged by the rough manner IN
which it Is handled, but the trees are
more or less injured by having the bark
rubbed off some parts OF the principle
branches, and the fruit spurs snapped oil
by rough treatment IL cannot he kept
for more than few weeks, anl impars
the faint of rcttenneSs TO sound nait.
Complaints are frequently made 10y con-
sumerS OF the dishonest way in which fruit
is packed, large proportion OF the con
tents of the barrel, box. or package. being
of inferior quality slowed away in the
center. Frauds OF this kind are discredi-
table and should not be practised 10y any
fruit grower. Inferior fruit should be re-
tanned on the farm or put in separate par
GELS.
When the trees of an orchard have been
selectedwith view 10 obtaining suitable
succession Of fruit, the operation OF gather
ing. packing. and marketing are not
crowded into comparatively short sea
son, but extend through the fall, winter
and spring Every orchard should have
suitable proportion If trees of the earli-
est varieties. and sufficient number OF
good fall fruit. These will keep mp a sup
ply for domestic use or market until The
main crop. consisting Of winter fruit. Is
fit for gathering. On account Of the press
of business during hrvest tine. e;rly
fruit is sometimes neglected and receives
injury by falling from the trees. A. It is
generally more thir->kinned and tender
than late varieties, il requires timely
gathering anal careful handling to pre-
serve il from being bruised in falling, etc.
Fruit that has been damaged in any way
is very difficult of sale. for purchasers
know that il is very pcriShable.
Pears are very valuable fruit. not sub
Jet TO the attacks OF the apPle-NoIm or
the curculio, althougl in absence of their
fayorite fruit both the codling moth and
the curculiO make unsuccessful attempts
TO perpetuale their uoNious species by
means of the pear This fruit i more ten
der than the apple, and requires "a be
handled with the greatest care. The
slightest bruise on pear makes its mark,
produces dark spot. and decay sets in
rapidly, furnishes the well known phr sse
las rotten ~ a pear" A. pears may
be gathered week or ten days before
they are ripe. they bear packing carriage
better than any Kind e fruit They may
be gathered while quite hard and KEEP, in
the cellar or fruit house Ia mature, or nj
to distant markets in barrrlS or boxes
They should not be gathered until they
attain full size and near maturing. II
will not do 10 gather autumn pears IN
summer, or winter trai. ia a, ann.
The more experi, e fruit grow ar
has. the more he viii 90 the necessity of
having couyeniynces d,1icd e his +
ne>s. such as lrui, lslder. and pic,,s :,
heading presses too. \ i-ui, house is a
most indispensable - a large orcta q.
tor withou, It fruit cannot he nryTe y
seasoned. assorted. packed or held over
fora favorable coui ti1n If the mark 20.
In q properly constructed fruit house a
large quantity OF different kinds Of iruit
may be safely kept IN latiined shelves.
There has been considerable DISCUSSION
aLod, the best material Tor laying on The
shelves under the lrut. In some places
straw is used, Int well dried fern leave
are said 10 ne much better Some prefer
laying the rrui, on the shelves without,
any lining Aspect :, said to have con
siderable effect ou Tie preserving , OPP
ties Of q fruit house, northern ,sp G.
being much better III. q southern. I NJ
much fresh air causes uit = sh~iyeL q at
light has a similar CT. Fruit TIA i
gathered in mos, We. her seldom ,c,p>
well, for moisture i, ct..iucd ;bortrl,
calyx or eve. which c. ,es mould AMI r,.-
tenness. if not rymov, by driving before
the fruit IS stored. y, nc but careful. Is
perienced persons Sho ld Dee permit Il %
gather or handle liun -[We-teu Rud