Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-08-05
The Gathering of Ripe Fruit.

Ihe following is by Joseph Hooper,
celebrated fruit-grower and writer on
horticulture, of Pennsylvania, and will
be found seasonable and useful to the
fruit grower:
In regard to the gathering of ripe
fruits of different kinds, nofruit should
be taken from the tree or plant during
damp time, and especially when the
dew is plentiful in early norning.
Never be SO hurried as to find any cause
for the excuse. / had no time to hand
pick my fruit, and consequently was
forced to shake them off, for such is
poor policy. Fruit SO gathered will al
most inevitably decay from the effects
OF bruises. Each specimen should be
taken from the tree one by one, handled
as IT they had been SO many eggs. The
lightest bruise or abrasion of the skin
is the sure forerunner of a dark spot,
which will eventually change into some
form of rot. The spores of seed of
tataagi are always ready to assist in the
work of dissolution, and the slightest
scratch gives them foothold for their
destructive work. Scarcely any variety
of the largest fruits color and ripen so
well if left to perfect themselves on the
tree, and especially is this true in
respect to pears. Summer varieties as
they approach maturity, loosen their
hold somewhat on the limb, and by
gently raising the fruit they will easily
dstach themselves at the proper period.
This is an excellent test, and may al
ways be relied on. To color up fruit
nicely, all that is necessary will be to
spread blanket on the floor of cool
room, and then thinly and evenly place
the fruit on the floor. Ascend blanket
must be spread over them, and in a
short time the effect of this treatment
will be apparent in the most golden
colored Bartletts, and rich, ruddy-
looking Seckels imaginable. Pears
perfected in this manner rarely
have the mealiness of their naturally
ripened companions; nor do they pre-
NATURALLY decay at the core as when
left on the tree. Peaches are too fire.
quently gathered before attaining the
full size, and when this is the case we
need not expect good flavor. They
must obtain this requisite before gath
ering; although it is not necessary to
delay picking until very mellow. As a
general rule all small fruits are gather
ed too early; and, as high color is not
sign or maturity, many experienced
fruit-growers are frequently misled
Never pick strawberries because they
are red, nor blackberries solely on &C
count Of their dark appearance. Each
should remain on the plant for some
time thereafter. The Albany Seeding
strawberry changes to deep crimson
hue, and gains continually in size after
its first coloring process. It is then
soft and excellent eating. And so with
blackberries in like manner, many com
planning OF their extreme tartness, when
| the fruit was IN gathering imperfect
fruit. The Lawton or New-Rochelle
variety particular, is delicious eating,
if allowed to remain on the plant until
soft, when the slightest touch will sever
its hold. Strawberries picked with the
calyx Cor hulD adhering will always
carry better and be less liable to decay
than if carelessly pulled off without
this appendage. The foregoing re-
marks in relation to the proper time for
gathering fruits are equally applicable
to the grape. These generally color
long before they are mature and thus
many novice in fruit culture frequent
ly forms an unjust opinion of his
varieties simply from testing unripe
specimens. Grapes should always be
severed from the vine with strong scis-
sors or trimming shears, and never
| twisted Or broken off.