Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-11-28
Keeping Apples.

An apple may be bruised, and so long
as the skin is whole it will not rot. But
break the skin, and the mold germs enter
at once and rot the fruit Hence the head
of barrel may be pressed hard against
the fruit and not injure it, save little
dry tough spot. All fruit, therefore, in
tended to keep, must have sound epider-
mis-. A worm-hole invites rot.
Apples to be kept through the winter
or till well into spring, should be packed
before they are quite ripe, or just as they
reach the point of ripening. To gather
sooner will deprive somewhat of the
flavor, though the preserving quality will
be improved. Handle carefully when
picked, and as little as possible, so as to
leave intact the Oil-coat that covers the
fruit, which is an aid to its keeping.
Have the barrels at the tree, and transfer
from the basket, putting in the best, such
as are wished to be kept. Each sorting
of apples, or almost any fruit, is a hurt
Let it then be done but once, and at the
tree. Remove the barrels to an out
building, and leave there till the sweating
operation has passed and the fruit is dry.
Then remove to the fruithouse or cellar.
Sweating commences at once, and the
barrels should therefore be left open, or
at least partly, so as to give chance for
evaporation. When put into their place
for winter, head up, leaving a little
space half an inch or inch wide; this to
give chance for slight circulation of air.
If the air is rather dry, let there be less
ventilation; more if moist, and according
to the amount of moisture. Apples will
rapidly dry and shrink when exposed to
dry air. A cellar will in general not
bear the exposure, much less fruit
room.
1t is important that there be uniform
and loao temperature. The uniformity is
generally unheeded, to the damage of the
fruit. If just above the freezing point,
the temperature is the right thing. Keep
as near this as possible; and if any change
occur, as it usually will, see that it be
gradual, in which case there will be little
hurt. To secure all this, the windows
should be made double and hung so as to
open and shut readily, the rest of the eel
lar or building frost proof. By the win
dOws the temperature is to be regulated.
Throw open in the fall and spring when
cool, which is usually at night, and close
when warm. This keeps uniform cool
ness. In winter reverse-open when mild,
and close when cold. 1t is best to have
two apartments for fruit; one cool, where
the fruit is intended for long keeping; the
other warmer, where it is to be used along,
as warmth will hasten maturity.-Cor.
Country Gentleman.
On a recent stormy day just as cast
was being made at the Green Bay Iron
Furnace, and while the storm was raging
high, the water in East river broke over
the banks, and filled the castingroom of
the furnace to depth of about three feet,
in less than fifteen minutes. The cast
made about twelve tons of pig iron, but
the water ruined about six tons of it, and
the other six tons was so badly damaged
as to render it necessary to re-melt it.
When the water reached the hot iron, a
scene both grand and terrifying ensued,
The casting-room was Immediately filled
with dense clouds of steam, and particles
of hot iron were flying through the air in
every direction.
-"Be brief, gentlemen" is the good
orixyor, m I'll hy n1,1 r3.o-