PACKING FRUIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 232, 1 October 1925, Page 16

PACKING FRUIT.

NEW AMERICAS INVENTION.

Tbe San Francißco correspondent of the " Christchurch Press "" refers to a new fficthofl or rniit packing- which has been initiated in California, for which great claims are made. Alter rig-id tests bad met with complete success, sn order was recently placed by a London firm with a Ban Francisco merchant ror 5200 packages or rresh pears. The pears being sent to Ehcland on* this first trial order were placed in round tins, first being graded on an Elliott grader, wrapped and carefully stowed by hand. Tbe tins are then taken over to a crimping machine. -Over the fruit is placed a tin disc nearly the diameter of tbe can. On this is placed a short piece of pine wood. Soaked in a patented solution. The machine operator touches a pas name to the wood, which immediately ignites. Tbe cover is then slipped on the top, the machine set in motion, and the tin is crimped hermetically. The Durum;? solution in the wood has a double effect. It gives out a gas which preserves tbe fruit, and it causes a vacuum inside the tin hy consuming the oxygen. Alter crimping tne joint is sealed with paraffin wax as an extra precaution. According tb the inventor and officials of the company, the new process Is destined to become the one generally used for shipping rruit, as the cust is little above that or packing in boxes, and. so far as tests have shown, preserves the fruit perfectly