Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-10-29
STORING APPLES

II StOHtNG StfleS
1t may or may not be advisable to sell
the crop of winter apples in autumn
directly after picking. OF this each
grower must himself be the judge. But
somebody must keep, in ordinary years,
large proportion Of the crop Of winter
fruit, and until the apple trade is differ
emily organized and better systematized
than at present, much of this fruit, in
fruitful years at least, must be held for
time in growers hands. Hence the
subject matter of storage is an impOr-
tant one.
From the day when the sweating
process of piling fruit in the orchard for
that purpose was considered as impOr-
tant down to the present time, there has
been much said and written on the sub
ject, and many differing methods rec
commended. But so far practice among
growers has rarely gone further than
providing storage room in the cellar of
the house or basement of other build
ings, and it is not uncommon for fruit
to be stored in open sheds at picking,
there to remain till cold weather forces
its removal to close quarters. In fact,
in all these years there has been scarcely
any advance among fruit growers in
general in the matter of providing inn
proved storage for their fruit. 1t is
quite time so important a matter re-
ceived the attention it deserves.
There are two conditions necessary to
the long keeping without change: ny
Low temperature, and (2) even temperat-
ure. At picking time the basement
cellar is the coolest place available. So
long as that is to be the room for stOr-
age, into that cellar the fruit should 60
as fast as taken from the trees, as being
the best place available. But the tenn
perature of the cellar is not even under
ordinary management. During the
warm turns frequently experienced in
October and November, and sometimes
in the month of December, the temper
ature of the cellar rises, and rapid ripen-
ing takes place with the fruit, followed
by decay. Not only is low temperature
necessary to long keeping, but it should
be uniformly low. Very few fruit
growers in our state are provided with
the means of preserving this needed
uniform low temperature, and worse
yet there seems to be but little effort
towards that end.
Last winter we referred to a fruit
built by Mr.. F. II. Morse,
Waterford, at comparatively small cost,
that proved well adapted to the purpose
designed, and in all respects was pref
erable to basement rooms under dwell |
ings or other buildings. This was |
simply building constructed with dead
air spaces all around--hoors, walls and |
ceiling, and without windows. The |
building was not expensive since no !
costly material or expensive workman |
ship was called for IN its construction. |
Every one knows that dead air space is a |
complete protection from both cold and |
heat alike. Hence such building pro- |
sides just the conditions needed for the |
storage of fruit.
We have no doubt that extensive stOr-
,ge houses in time will be provided at |
points, where dealers in fruits |
will store their purchases and hold them |
1T pleasure. But better storage facilities |
are now needed where the fruit is |
grown, and inexpensive structures like |
The one referred to would be a long step |
in advance of conditions as now found. |
Such storShouse is not expensive.
Every owner Of an orchard can afford to |
provide one, where the frnit can go into |
\ cool, even temperature directly from |
the orchard. Much fruit is ripened |
by being stored in warm
house cellars.-Maine Farmer.