Old Method of Storing Apples.

Some of the older people in West Cork used to preserve apples as follows.

The apples would be placed in a pyramid and covered in a mixture of grass and earth from under the apple trees.  The mound was then covered with hessian cloth from sacks which had been soaked in pickle,  This kept the snails at bay.

The method was broadly similar to potato pits.

https://durrushistory.com/2015/12/02/present-by-daniel-sullivan-berehaven-west-cork-to-richard-boyle-the-great-earl-of-cork-c-1636-of-harvey-apples-bon-chretien-and-bergamotte-pears-arbutus-for-his-new-garden-at-stalbridge-park-d-2/

https://durrushistory.com/2015/12/02/inventory-of-plants-grown-by-gaelic-irish-1620-prepared-by-philip-osullivan-bere-and-early-19th-century-cultivation-of-grapes-and-pineapples-by-timothy-odonovan-magistrate-of-odonovans-cove-2/

https://wordpress.com/post/durrushistory.com/30991