The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-10-17

GATHERING RIPE FRUIT.-The following
which we find IN one of our exchanges, is by
John Hooper, a celebrated fruit grower and
horticultural writer of Pennsylvania, and
will be found seasonable and useful to our
| fruitgrowcrs:
| In regard to the gathering of ripe fruits of
different kinds, no fruit should be iaken from
the tree during damp time, and especially
when the dew is plentiful in early morning.
Never be so hurried as to find any cause for
the excuse 81 had no time to hand.pick my
fruit, and consequently was forced to shake
them of" for such is poor policy. Fruit so
gathered will almost inevitably decay from
the effects of bruises. Each specimen should
be taken from the tree separately, and should
be handled as so many eggs. The slightest
bruise or abrasion ofthc skin is the sure fore
runner Of dark spot, which will eventually
change into some form of rot The spores or
seed OF fungi are always ready to assist the
work of dissolution, and the slightest scratch
gives them ioohold for their destructive
work. Scarcely any variety Of the largest
fruits color and rlpen so well as if left on the
tree, and especially is this true in respect to
pears. Summer varieties, rs they approach
maturity, loosen their hold somewhat upon
NV IiAio, uuN W SNIilJ tiiS NV ~
will easily dctach itself at the proper period.
This is all excellent test, and may always be
relied on. To color up fruit nicely, all that
is necessary will be to spread blanket on
the floor OF a cool room, and then thinly and
evenly place the fruit on the blanket A Sc
cond blanket must be pat over the fruit, and
in Il short time the effect Of this treatment
will be apparent in the most golden cOlorcd
Bartlett or rich ruddy looking Seckels mag,
Unable. Pears ripened in this manner rarely
have the mealiness of their naturally ripened
companions nor do they permanently decay
at the core as when left on the tree. Peaches
are frequently gathered before attaining their
full size, and when this is the case we need
not expect good flavor. They must obtain
this requisite before gathering, though 1t is
not necessary to delay picking until very
mellow As a general rule, all small fruits
are gathered too early; and as high color is
not II sign of maturity, many experienced
fruit growers are frequently misled. Never
pick strawberries because they are red, nor
blackberrles solely on account CT their dark
appearance. Each should remain on the
plant some time thereafter, The Albany
Seeding strawberry changes to deep Grim
son hue, and gains continually III size after
It's coloring process. 1t is then soft, and eX-
celcnt eating. So with black berries-many
complain of their fairness when the fault is
in gathering imperfect fruit. The Lawton or
New Rochelle variety in particular, is excel
lent eating if allowed TO remain on the plant
until soft, when the slightest tonch will sever
its hold Strawberries picked with the calyX
or hull adhcring, will always carry better and
be less liable to decay than If carelesSly PICK
cd without this appendagc. The foregoing
remarks in relation to tue proper time for
gathering fruits ale equally applicable to-
grapes. These generally color long before
they are mature, and thus many novice iii
fruit culture frequently forms an unjust opin-
ion of his varieties simply from testing un-
ripe specimens. Grapes should always be
severed from the vine with strong scissors or
trimming shears, and never twisted or brok-
en- off, The nice appearance of fruit Of ali
kinds in boxes or baskets in market will
cause 1t to command better price than when
sloyenly done up.