Gathering Apples.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20280, 14 April 1934, Page 15

Gathering Apples.

A Garden Corner.

JT MIGHT APPEAR a simple matter to answer the query from “ Knowledge,” Cashmere, as given on our gardening page tonight, and the question of gathering apples is being discussed here as highly seasonal and of probable interest to a good many. To th# professional fruitgrower, the gathering of his crop is routine work, but I know that many amateur growers are not so sure of the right procedure. Apples and pears, according to variety, vary in reaching maturity and the best time for each is just before reaching that point. The practised hand can detect that bloom and colour denoting the stage, but the best test is when the fruit readily breaks off when lifted above the horizontal and a slight strain put on the .stem. The fruit should come away with a half-inch of stem attached. Applying this test, it will be found that Delicious, Jonathan and Lord Wolselev are now ready for gathering. Stunners can be left on for two or three weeks yet. All should be handled as carefully as eggs to assure no bruises, for bruised fruit will decay sooner and cause trouble when ' packed or stored. Light autumn frosts do no harm, and to pick too soon causes the fruit to shrivel. Some claim that when the pips show brown is the 'time, but this is not so reliable as the stem test. The matter of storage will be dealt with on Mondav night. T D. LENNIE.