Ellsworth American., 1875-11-18
Farm ann 6uuseboIu.
Keeping Apples.

The great scarcity of apples this year, de
maHd, that they should be carefully gath.
cred and properly protected during the
winter. The fruit grower has /. right to re.
ccive the fail value which his diminished
crop will bring and the fruit buyer may
ri-Ainlly require that only first rate pro
duct Shall receive a high price. Economy
should be practiced at all times and sea
s1u>-and even in years of abundance. 1t i.
better tor buyer and seller that this valua.
bic fruit should be carefully handled and
stored-5ut the result of the present har-
vest shows the necessity of taking care OF
every apple, not merely for the price II
may bring, bat that every man may have
hs share. No fruit that the earth produces
50 largely ministers TO the health and hap
ten>iveiy used As an article offood. Among
the iuxnries Of life it can hardly be sur
passed, aud among the necessaries of life 1t
would be one OF the last 10 be dispensed
with. Almost every other fruit has only
is short season, 4 month or two at most
but the royal apple might rightfully be en-
throned as the king OF the subject year, for
when treated with due respect he honors
each month with his presence.
We believe It is generally admitted tha,
prevention is better than cure-that mis-
chief is half done when first begun-and
therefore in the apple harvest all depends
upon its sale removal from the tree; If this
Is not 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 are past all
surgery. Much ofthe depreciation and de-
cay which Is first discovered in the cellar
or store-hoQse really begins in the orchard,
AID i unnecessarily occasioned by rude
aud uushiliul 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 ground.
| nder his Instructions the separation be-
i,~--, titv purvnt 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 a
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 the winter.
Rolling them from the tree down an inclin-
ei road Of cloth will not preserve them en-
frss anI Ia
in bags any considerable distance subjects
them to numbcrless bruises.
For few weeks they may be exposed in
open barrels in some cool and airy shelter
until all moisture has evsporated and then
when freezing weather comes the heads
may be inserted and the barrels rolled into
the cellar. We prefer however TO place
empty barrels in the cellar. and then fill
them basketful at time, giving every ap-
pie careful handling and inspection and
removing every bruised and decayed 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 substan.
ces should be removed by washing, if q
thorough brushing is not sufficient. II the
barrels are not beaded up, all excess OF air
and light should be excluded and a COO
and uniform temperature preserved. Ordin
arAy it IS better that apples that are moi
used, should remain untouched till spring
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 methods-spread In layers upor
shelves-covered with sawdust or sand, OIL
buried in the earth, but usually their crisp.
ness and soundness are preserved at th,
expense OF the natural aroma and flavor
We think the simple and long praciicec
ways to which We haye referred, gives th,
best satisfaction when used with due car,
aud discretion Portland Press.