Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-09-24
Hancaster f,ltelligenrer.
Farmer and Gardener.
About RipeniDg Pears.

About Ripenlng Pears.
Advice by the Germantown Telegraph.
At late meeting of fruit growers in the
western part of the state of New York, a
member said hc had tried many ways to
ripeu pears, but had found the best way to
he to mack them in close boxes and keep
them in q cool though not too dry an at
mosphere but did not say where this place
exactly was. Pears SO ripened, he averred,
come out with better flavor and color than
if exposed to the atmosphere to ripen !;
but did not say that these boxes were air
tight. Another person stated that he had
known pears buried "right in the soil out
of doors to come out in perfect condition
in the spring." Is this really so? We
can't believe it. We have tried it several
times, and seen it tried we think score OF
times, and in every instance it was not SIM
ply a failure. but ruined all the fruit. Those
that had not rottcd outright were worthless,
as all their flavor had departed, and an
carthy tastc-if it could be called taste at
all-was all that was left. Indeed, no fruit
raiser, who has tried this plan once, will
care to try it again. Both pears and apples
will keep best in the cool, dry cellar or
latticcd shelves, and in single layers. If
they are not 20 ripcn the cooler the cellar
the better: and If it should bc too moist
fresh lime under the row of shelves will
be of great benefit. Try it and report.
Even packed in dry barrels and kept un-
der q shed, protected against rain or
moisture. to remain there until late in
November and freezing weather ap-
prOaches, then removed to 4 cold, dry Gel
lar and the barrels headed up, is good rs
any way, where the quantity Oh hand IS
large, and the purpose is to keep them
over winter for spring sales In fact, VIC
have known apples put up in this way
that have been preserved sound and good
into juno.
Saving Sweet Potatoes.
The farmers Of this state, and especially
in this section, find great difficulty in saw
ing the few sweet potatoes they raise for
their own consumption, as when also they
wish to put up enough for winter of other
peoples raising. We have seen number
of methods recommended and have some
experience ourselves. The following looks
rs though it might answer very well, and
is adopted by an experienced Jersey grow
CT The potatoes aIc dug after the first
sharp frost, and left to lay rs dug until
near evening, when they arc covered
with the vines. In the morning the vines
are removed and the sun goes Oil with the
drying process. This is pursued for four
or five days when they become thoroughly
dry. They arc then carefully carried into
the cellar, where they arc put Oh shelves
in single layers, standing on Neir ends, by
which any rotten ones can be easily seen
and removed, and the air has free circula-
ton. Warmth has 4 great deal to do with
preserving the sweet potato, hence, if the
cellar is not naturally warm, they should
bc put into 4 cellar in which there is 4
heater They bear considerable heat with
out sprouting, but it should not get beyond
fifty nor below forty degrees.
We have also known them to be packed
in boxes, each potato being wrapped up in
paper, and the boxes placed in cellars
where there is no danger of freezing, rs
this potato is very susceptible OF being nip
pid, and when once touched they decay
Immediately. Yet the temperature should
not he too warm to cause them to sprout.
We have ourselves tried them packed III
paper and put in barrels, also with fine
shavings, and placed in cellar we'll vcn-
tilatcd, but they would not keep.
We have found-rcsiding VIC may
say at the headquarters of the
sweet potato rcgion-that the sur.
est way to obtain good, sound potatoes
was to buy them in the market from Jer.
sey farmers just as we needed thcm-say
peck or half bushcl at 4 time. But this
system can bc adopted only where the con
veniences arc at hand.