FRUIT RESEARCH

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 141, 11 March 1938, Page 13

FRUIT RESEARCH

Experiments With Gas Storage APPLES AND ASPARAGUS Developments of special interest in the work of the Fruit Research Division of the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research include knowledge gained as the result of tests of gas storage of,apples and asparagus, states a report by the chairman of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

The experiments on Washington and Ballarat apples showed that gas-stored fruit kept in a distinctly less matured condition than air-stored controls, even though the test was adversely affected by the large size and forward condition of the fruit. It was also established that small fruits were less susceptible than large fruits to brown-heart in carbon dioxide-laden atmospheres. As a result of experiments at the Dominion laboratory, there have been indications that, in gas storage asparagus has held in rather better condition than in air storage. The experiments made it appear advisable to wrap the asparagus and pack it on moss. Approximately five dozen cuttings, and 84 dozen plants of soft, fruit varieties have been secured from English research stations, and these will form a valuable nucleus -for the standardisation and possible improvement of small fruits in New Zealand. Unfermented Fruit Juices. Considerable attention has been paid to the development of the manufacture of unfermented fruit juices in New Zealand, and it has been decided to commence by determining the process characteristics of six or the main varieties of New Zealand apples. Arrangements are in hand to co-operate with an Auckland firm in the conducting of these tests and the associated chemical studies will be made by the Dominion Laboratory.