Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-11-03
agricultural.
Picking and Keeping 4ppies.

In many sections Of the coun ~ apple
gathering viii be an Important item Of
farm work this month. Where apples
are plenty. this year, they are very plenty,
and some farmers may be Ted 70 believe
that they vii. hard pay for gathering
This Is a mistake. Apples are not excess
sive.y plenty IN a.. parts of the country.
To those towns where the caukerwoym
and caterpil.ars have been allowed 10
oye-run the orchards, the crop wi. be
little above ar average.
Porters and other fan apples have been
very plenty in many places during the
pas; month. and the price has ruled low,
but apples which Wi. keep VII. be worth
picking and handling with care. There
are many methods Of storing apples dur
ing the fall aud winter.
Some orcharjists pick directly into bar
RES and head up in the field, and pile the
barrels on their sides in some shady place
Others pile them up on the north side Of
building, where they remain till treeziu.
weather. Other, carry 70 the cellar au 3
leave them unhealci O few weeks auj
then head up ,.eh, and keep Oil. wanted
for Use or tol sale Others keep on shelves
whore they may be Looked over and the
inferior and tecayiug ones used FIRST. The
objection 20 this method j. that the frUi,
dries and withers too much. II stored in
tight barrels Immediately after picking,
the apples are quite liable to injury from
sweating.
We have seen apples offered in the
spring, after being headed in this way,
which looked as if they had the measles,
the skin being nearly black, and, after
exposure 10 the air few days, thew de-
cayed very rapidly. II they had been
left open O few weeks after gathering. IN.
III a portion Of the surplus moisture had
evaporated, they would have kept well in
this way.
Mr.. f. T. Miles, Of Fitchbqrg treated
tie members o.. the State Board of Ag,i-
culture and other friends assembled AZ his
house last December, TO q dessert of ap-
pies grown In the summer OF le12. which
were in an excellent state Of preserya-
ton. They were headed up and kept
from the ala in g coo. cellar, bu, were not
closed mp until several weeks after gather
ing.
Our own practice is 20 carry the apples
10 baskets Goa ;Ae orchard % the cellar
and store ga piles about two feet deep
A few boards, covered with mats or straw.
are Laid on the ground to keep the fruit
clean. The cellar windows are kept open
as late In the season as the fruit is safe
from freezing. They are not handled
over or disturbed till wanted for use or
for market.
Il one has DO good cellar for keeping
apples, it may be better TO sell at the or
chari than 10 run the risk Of losses by
storing although the price vii. be pretty
sure TO advance considerably after the
first Of February. When pickiu. do no,
clasp around two or three large apples at
once aud pun them from the tree In
this way, each apple Is apt to be leutel
by the pressure, aud decay soon follows.
Take of one al time and place care
fully In % small hand basket from which
they may be poured carefully into larger
baskets. Egg may be poured from one
basket 20 another without breaking, If
they are not allowed to drop. \ little
observation and experience will teach any
one about how much apple, may be moved
without injury. But recolect that
bruise, however slight, Is always an IN
jury.-Nec England Farmer.