Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-11-16
Keeping Apples.


demands that they should be carefully
gathered and properly protected during
the winter. The fruit grower has right
TO receive the full value which his DIS
minished crops will bring, and the irult
buyer may rightfully require that only
first rate product shall receive a higa
price. Economy should be practiced al
all times and scasons-and even IN years
of abundance, it is better for buyer and
seller that this valuable fruit should be
carefully handled and stored-but the
result Of the present harvest shows the
necessity of taking care OF every apple,
not merely for the price it may bring, but
that every man may have his share. No
fruit that the earth produces, so largely
ministers TO the health aud happiness OF
man; and no other can be 50 extensively
used as an article Of food. Among the
luxuries of life it can hardly be surpassed
and among the neccssaries OF life 1t would
be one of the last to be dispensed with.
Almost every other fruit has only its short
season, a month or two at most-but the
royal apple might be rightfully be en-
throned as the king of the subject year.
for when treated with due respect he hon.
ors each month with his presence.
We believe it generally admitted that
prevention is better than cure-that mis-
chief is half done when first begun-and
therefore in the apple harvest all depends
upon its safe removal from the tree; II
this not is carefully done no subsequent
GOOD management is Of any avail
Wounds and bruises on the body may be
healed, but once inflicted here and they
arc past all surgery. Much of the de-
probation and decay which is first dis
covered in the cellar or store-housc re-
Ally begins in the orchard. and is unnec-
essarily occasioned by rude and unskifu
hands. Would that the spirit of the
"Gentle Angler" could commune with
some of the coarse and uncivilized natures
who roughly shake the tender fruit down
on stone wall or hard and frozen gaOund.
Under his instructions the separation be-
tween the parant branch and its summer
child. would be as when the infant goes to
the cradle from its mothers arms.
Apples that are carefully picked into
basket, suspended near by from limb
or ladder, and then safely deposited upon
the grass for sorting, or else placed in
boxes or barrels, may be housed with
some hope OF keeping them through tho
winter. Rolling them from the tree down
an inclined road of cloth will not preserve
them entirely from injury, and transport.
ing them'in bags any considerable distance
subjects them to numbcrleSs bruises.
For a few weeks they may be exposed
in open barrels in some cool and airy
shelter until all moisture has eyap0ratcd
aud then when freezing weather comes the
heads may sbe inserted and the barrels
rolled into the cellar. We prefer, how.
ever, to place empty barrels in the cellar
and then oil them a basketfal at time,
giving every apple careful handling and
inspection. and removing every bruised
and dscayed, one and every leaf and stem
that may promote decay. 1t is almost
unnecessary to say that the barrels should
be clean and free from protruding nails
all foreign substance should be removed
by washing, If a thorough brushing is not
sufficient II the barrels are not headed
up, all exees: Of air aud light should be
excluded and 4 cool and uniform tenn
perature preserved. Ordinarily it is
better that apples. that are not used,
should remain untouched tillspring even
if some decayed ones are then found, the
number IS probably less than if often, or
even once. picked over
Apples may be kept without doubt by
other mcthods-spread in layers upon
shelves-coyered with sawdust or saud,o
buried in the earth, but usually their
crispncss and soundness are preserved at
the expense Of the natural aroma and
flavor. We think the simple and long
practiced ways to which We have referred.
gives the best satisfaction when used with
due care and diseretion.-P Press.