A very rude method has sometimes been pursued in thinning the superabundance of fruit upon apple trees. It appears so very Gothic that its description may only excite a smile, when it is stated that it consists in threshing the tree with a long slender pole, by which a portion of the fruit is cast to the ground. Rude and primitive as this method may appear, it is surely better than no thinning at all, and is attended with this good result, for which it deserves some commendation; the threshing removes portions of the excessive twiggy spray that always abounds upon such trees as those under consideration, and thus, in a degree, it prevents the recurrence of so heavy a crop the following year. Whenever an old orchard has reached this condition of over-fruitfulness, however, the best method of thinning is to give a severe winter pruning; removing portions of the spray and encouraging the free growth of young wood in various parts of the top, to replace the older portions that were removed. CHAPTER XII. RIPENING AND PRESERVING FRUITS. CHANGES DURING THE PROCESS OF RIPENING. ANNUALS RIPEN THEIR FRUIT AND DIE. PERENNIALS HAVE AN ACCUMULATION OF STRENGTH. YOUNG PLANTS OFTEN FAIL TO PERFECT THEIR FRUIT. THE NECESSITY FOR THINNING. ALTERNATE CROPS OF FRUIT FAVOR THE ACCUMULATION. CHANGES IN CONDITION OF PERICARP. GREEN FRUITS APPROPRIATE CARBON. GIVE OFF CARBONIC ACID AS THEY RIPEN. COMPOSITION OF RIPE SUCCULENT FRUITS. FORMATION OF SUGAR. INFLUENCE OF LIGHT, OF EXCESSIVE MOISTURE. TESTS OF RIPENESS. CHANGES AFTER SEPARATION DEPEND UPON OXIDATION. TIME REQUIRED FOR RIPENING. FROM BLOSSOMING BLOSSOMS RENDERED ABORTIVE BY TOO HIGH TEMPERATURE. TREES ARE ABORTIVE FROM EXCESSIVE WOOD-GROWTH. EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO JUDGE OF RIPENESS. PRACTICAL TEST. GATHERING. SOME MATURE ON THE TREE; OTHERS, PLUCKED PREMATURELY, WILL RIPEN. EFFECTS ON KEEPING QUALITIES. SELECT FINE WEATHER. HANDLING. PACKING. THE GATHERING BAG. WHY RED APPLES ARE PREFERRED. PRESERVATION. LOW TEMPERATURE AND DRYNESS, BUT AVOIDING FROST AND DESICCATION. COVERING IN PILES. THE RAIL PEN WITH STRAW. THE CIDER HOUSE. THE CELLAR. PACKING IN BARRELS. SWEATING. WAXY COATING TO BE PRESERVED. FRUIT-ROOMS. PLANS. NYCE'S PATENT.