Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/463

FRU and to remove such as begin to de- cay ; because the straw, by ab- sorbing moisture, will become so tainted, as to communicate an un- pleasant flavour. Another mode of preservingfruit, is that of depositing it on slielves made of well-seasoned white' deal, and covered with coarse thin can- vas, on which the articles are to be laid, after being wiped perfedly dry : a piece of linen cloth, or thin flannel, or whitish-brown, paper, must then be placed on the top, with a view to exclude the air, and to guard against the injurious ef- fe6ts of frost. Farther, it should be turned several times during the winter 5 because the more tender and delicate kinds are apt to decay on the lower side, if they remain long in a quiescent state ; even though they may have been com- pletely sound, when first selected for that purpose. In the vicinity of the metropolis, where fiuit is kept in store-houses for supplying the markets, it is generally packed in soft paper, dis- posed at the bottoms and around the edges of baskets or hampers : a layer of fruit is tfien put in, and covered with sheets of paper ; af- ter which successive strata of fruit and paper are placed regularly, till the vessel be full. The top is then provided with three or four double folds of paper, both to exclude the air and frost. Every sort is ar- ranged in distiniSt baskets, to which labels are affixed, containing the name of the fruit, and the period when it will be fit for use. "Ihe best mode of preserving fruit, however, in the opinion of Mr. FoBSYTH, is that of packing it in glazed earthen jars, which ought to be kept in dry apartments. For this purpose, a])ples and pears FRU [427 are to be wrapped separately In soft pap'ir, and laid at the bottom of the vessel on a thin stratum of well- dried bran : alternate layers of bran and fruit are then to follow, till the j:ir be filled ; when it should be gently shaken, in order to settle its contents. Every vacancy must now be supplied with bran, covered with paper, and the whole secured from air and moisture by a piece of blad- der, over which the cover of the vessel must be carefully fitted. With respeft to the packing of_ fruit, which is to be conveyed to a considerable distance, there cannot be taken too great precaution. Boxes should, therefore, be made of strong deal, and of various si/.cs, in proportion to the quantity they are designed to contain : thesewill be proper for melons wrapped sim- ply in paper ; and also for pears, peaches, neftarines, plums, and grapes, beitig enveloped first in vine-leaves, and then in paper; but for cherries, and currants, flat tin boxes will be required. — If the fruits last mentioned are to be car- ried, successive layers of fine long moss, and cherries, ought to be arranged, till the box be full; so that, whet> the lid is closed, they may bp in no danger of bting in- jured by fridion. For transport- ing melons, &c. similar strata of diied moss, and short, soft, dry grass are to be formed, in which the fruit is to be stored according t(» the manner above direded ; being seledtcd as nearly of the same size as possible : care also must be taken to place the largest at the bottom, and to fill tip every inter- stice. — For tfce sake of farther se- curity, each box ought to be pro- vided with a strong lock and two keys ; so that the persons packing and unpacking the fruit, may be re- spective!/