The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-04
Modes of Keeping Apples.


a few hours expended early in winter by
farmers in making experiments for keep.
ing apples sound through winter and into
spring, will give them some valuable
practical information on the subject, which
may be of much use to them now and in
after years. The best time to commence
such experiments is late in autumn, just
as farmers are about removing their winter
apples from the cool clubhouse where they
have been for several weeks, to their fruit
room cellar for winter storage, but those
who have made this removal, and who
have their apples already stored in bulk or
on shelves, may make the experiments to
good advantage, now that they have more
time to spare. They are to be made on
the basis OF the requirements that the fruit
Will keep best at uniformly low temper
ature. or near the freezing point. If this
rs secured, there is no trouble 10 keeping
fruit for months, which otherwise might
perish in few days or weeks. Next to
low temperature is a uniform one, even If
considerably higher But the most IN
favorable of all is afuctuating one, cold at
one time and warm at another, or sub
Jected to rapid changes, disturbing the
texture and frmness, and the keeping
quality OF the fruit.
To secure good results, and to be able to
control the temperature of the apartment
the fruit room should always be entirely
separate from the rest of the cellar, If not
in a separate building. The apples should
never be mixed with vegetables or other
matters. in the same place. The farmer who
has not yet provided a suitable and sepa-
rate space would do we'll to at once parti-
ton of one, either by handsome matched
plank, or better, with an s inch brick wall.
This work may be easily done in winter
in an unfrozen cellar. The tempo
rary litter which it occasions can be borne
&C., - - a. IL -
are TO follow. II the new apartment can
have windows on opposite sides for ventii-
lation. all the better. Hanging or sliding
sash will give control, and the tenn perature
may be kept nearly uniform by admitting
cold air on cool nights, and closing the
windows as the weather becomes warmer.
One or two cheap thermometers will be a
guide in regulating it. A neat and tidy
separate room, made cool IN this system
attic way, will keep fruit sound, fresh and
excellent long after the mass in promis-
cuous storage, and with changes OF heat
and cold, have rotted and persisted.
In addition to this care, or as a substi-
tute for it when it cannot be fully applied,
1t will be valuable to surround the fruit
with a protecting substance. We have
found tn at even the slight covering of It's.
sue paper wrapped around each specimen
kept app les sound longer than when they
were exposed. Hence also the reason that
apples keep better headed up in barrels,
If not allowed to remain too long in this
condition, or until the confined air became
heated, or if not stored in a warm CELLAR.
And hence also the reason that when
packed in some pulverized substance
which shall fill the interstices and prevent
the accumulation of heated air, a still
better purpose will be answered. Among
these different substances are bran, baked
5awdust, ground plaster and fine chaff If
sawdust is used, that made from Eastwood
answers well, as it is soft and is free from
bad taste. Whatever is used should be
perfectly dry, so as not to produce any
mold.
In using plaster, which is liable to ad
here to the surface of the frait, it is well
to wrap each specimen in thin paper be-
fore imbedding it in the plaster.
Either barrels, kegs or boxes may be
employed for receiving the fruit, first
placing layer about an inch deep on the
bottom, then q layer OF apples, with the
stems upward, and then another
layer OF the packing substance,
Milling IN all the spaces between, and
then alternating lays of each till full. Care
should be taken that no bruised ones are
used. These bedding substances will pre-.
vent freezing for time; and some orchard.
Its are quite successful IN placing the bar.
rels or boxes in an clubhouse or barn, rest.
ing on the earth, and with about three feet
OF hay or straw over them. With this
double protection they will no freeze, and
being kept cool all winter they come out
fresh and sound in the spring. III in a
basement or fruit room they may be kept
cooler than when placed on shelves or in
6ulk exposed TO the air, and they will keep
the longer for this cooler exposure A little
experience will aid as guide.
II, instead OF packing in plaster or fine
bran, the less perfect material of the fine
sbavings of joiDers, or from bookbinders,
are employed for alternating layers with
the fruit, they will aid In projecting il
from cold currents aad sudden changes
and retaining Its soundness
Farmers who have stored their fruit In
scellsrs. without any cover or protection.
may obtain much valuable information
T-'siive to the keeping Of fruit by perform
ting the following experiments:
i. Count and select fifty good, sound ap-