STORING FRUIT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9306, 23 March 1907, Page 3

STORING FRUIT.

For the successful storing of apples and pears no method yet known can surpass a thatch-roofed barn with shelf arrangements for their reception ; while vhe barrel and cellar system is very effective when only a sitiall quantity inquires to be stored. Whatever method is adopted, tho essential points in keeping are coolness and a steady temperature, with no greater circulation of 'a,ir than is .absolutely necessary to prevent exhalations from accumulating. The fruit should be kept in the dark. It> is necessary to exercise great care care in the picking and handling of fruit required for storing; in the first case fruit must be thoroughly matured, which is ascertained by its leaving the spur readily, but if it requires twisting and pulling to separate it, then the fruit lias not attained the desired degree of maturity. If gathered a few days too soon apples remain warery,' ajid if a few days too laite. they aae mealy, and neither are they very gpod for keeping purposes. Some early sorts ripen in succession, and must be gathered accordingly. The baskets employed in collecting the fruit should be lined with some soft materia-l, and not moro than two layers placed therein, but »1 these are being gathered iv quantity a light hand barrow must be constructed for the occasion having a bottom of large area, covered wjth a cloth, the fruit should bo Jaid singly on this, over the first layer another cloth may be spread, tipon which another lot may be similarly arranged, two layers being quite sufficient. When conveyed to their storing place, they should be removed carefully by hand, not tumbled out; for thjough they may "baar 'a considerable pressure without bruising, they instantly give way under a slight percussion., the effect of which may not be apparent beyond a. slight depression, but which, on the removal of the skin, will revfaal a derangement of tissue^ with, chamge of color and a disposition to decay. Should the fruit happen to be wot when . gathered, it must be allowed to thoroughly dry before storing. In the cellar system of storing the first essential is a cellar that is dry and thoroughly ventilated. Then arranging batten shelves throughout of timber three inches wide and one inch thick, allowing one inch space between the battens for cirouilation of air between the fruit, which, may be placed together, but on no account suffered to come in contact. Under this treatment you can have apples all the year round by attention to the essential points aforementioned. By covering the fruit with an inch of perfectly dry straw they will retain their color and plumpness much botter than if entirely exposed to the air. For smalleir quantities, and on less expansive lines, the barrel system is very gfcxxL Selfct a barrel that is Gleam and thoroughly dry, bore a nun<ber of one inch holes in the bottom, place it well off the. floor, and perfectly secure, in a cool, dry situation in such a manner that rodents cannot gain admission, for many a mouse has spoilt the contents of a barrel by nesting in it. This having been a,rranged, place a layer of thoroughly dry straw in the bottom, then proceed to pack t!i© perfectly sound and -caref itlly selected fruit with light straw free from any particle of dampness, cover over with straw. and place on a good fitting lid with a three-inch hole in the centre, covered with a piece of perforated zinc to prevent mice entering; botih top ajid bottom holes ■will require looking to occasionally, as spiders aie apt to block the circulation of air, which will .greatly impair the flavor of the. firuit and make them insipid. Pears do much better packed in closely fitting shallow drawers than undeT any other method, and the majority of them require gathering before they axe quite xipe. Williams' Bon Chretien, if allowed to ripen, when stored) wiU Hose its flavor, amd become disagreeable to the palate, so must be taken on the greeai side. Pears do not keep so well ot so long as apples, and require still more care in handling, the tissue being of a more delicate nature. The principal points then to remembeT in storing apples and pears satisfactorily for a long period are : The fruit to be perfectly sound, very carefully "handled, to be kept dark, dry, cool,' in a steady temperature, and with no greater circulatian of air than is necessary to prevent dampness from exhalation.