Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-09
Dailp Kf1rueher 3ournal.
Harvesting Apples.

In those sections OF New England where
the frost killed the apple blossoms last
year. there will be good crop to gather
this fall. The frost changed the bearing
year in those localities, as it occasionally
has done before in other places. Taking
the country through. the apple crop will
be an ..off year, crop, and will be well
worth gathering and handling with care.
One difficulty connected with an on year
crop is the general inferiority OF the fruit.
When apples are scarce the worms OF va
rious kinds which infest them
are more abundant in pro-
portion to the number of APP
Piles, than when the crop is large one.
The apple maggot is doing much damage
to early varieties. and threatens to become
the apple growers greatest pest. Mag
goty apples are not worth gathering ex-
cep: for cider or for stock The sound
fruit will be wanted, and it will pay to
handle it this year with extra care.
Apples should not be picked so early
that they will wilt. but the sooner they are
gathered after they are grown the better
they will keep. A hard wind may cause
much damage by blowing off the fruit and
bruising it, If the late fall is warm. the
fruit will be too ripe on the trees if it is
left HANGING upon them. Better pick and
place in cool cellar to retard ripening.
Northern New England has the advantage
over the southern portion. because the ap-
plies do not get over ripe before gathering,
and so they keep better through the win
ter, and retain sprightliness which more
southern fruit rarely possesses. When
gathering fruit pick it snglv, as rule !;
grasping two or three specimens at once
bruises each apple where it touches anoth-
er, and these bruised spots soon decay.
Do not handle fruit as one would handle
stones. Do not pour it from basket to bar
rel, but handle as carefully as you would
handle eggs. then, if it is placed in cool
place. it will keep reasonable length of
time. If one has cool cellar we would
advise carrying fruit to it directly from
the trees, but without good cellar it may
be better to pack in barrels, and pile them
up on the north side OF buildiSg with
boards laid over to keep off rains.
Whatever method is chosen, remember
the secret of keeping fruit sound is an
even and cool temperature.
In localities where apples are in demand
at picking time for shipping, it will usu-
ally pay better to sell early than to store
for winter market There is consider
able shrinkage and risk from Keeping, but
if one is near a good retail market, and
has good cellar the crop should bring
considerably more if kept till winter. Be
careful to keep each variety separate, and
the earlier sorts where they will be &C.
cessible as wanted for marketing. Square,
bushel boxes are very convenient ior stor-
ing and tor marketing apples in a near
market They economize room, are easily
handled. may be piled high in the cellar
and can be ventilated much or little as
seems necessary, by merely placing thin
blocks on the corners between the boxes.
1t is much easier sorting the fruit over at
selling time than when stored in deep
barrels. The boxes should hold a plump
bushel when level full.-N. E. Farmer.