SUN DRIED FRUIT.

Bush Advocate, Volume VII, Issue 647, 9 July 1892, Page 5

SUN DRIED FRUIT.

Thoreis one point in regard to fruit drying ai it is practiced on this coast, writes, the 'San Frflyicitco Oh follicle, the discussion of which is usually not encouraged, lint which is none the losß important and for which some remedy should be found. Keferencs is had to the tendency of sun-dried fruits of any kind to become wormy after have been kept far a few months in the store or warehouse. Great loss is occasionally innictod by this cauuo upon dealers who are not aware of this peculiarity, which soemß almost inevitably incident to fruit dried in theopon air. It is true the use of sulphur and the final bath in boiling hot water operate to chock this tendency in some degree. But both these processes Bot infrequently prove inadequate and loss results. A dealer who has once suffered on this account can scarcely b» expeoted to take chances again, aud as a consequence our dried fruit trade sull'ori. The fact cannot be disguised that the only fruit that ie absolutely certain not to be infected with inßOct life is that which is dried by machine, and subsequently handled, packed and stored under conditions which absolutely prevent contact with insect life in any form. But the high coat of machinery for curing fruit, and the immense quantity handled hore, as where single dryers have from five to ten acres of tray Burface out at onoe covered with fruit, preclude the feasibility of abandoning thepreBent method of open-air drying. If indeed it should come about that consumers would be willing to pay better prices for the machine-dried preduct than for the other, then their would bo encouragement to try it, tut until »uch a change transpires it is to be feared that dealers and consumers alike will have to take their chances with the present method.