Dried Fruit.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 7

Dried Fruit.

Mr Wilson, of Wairoa South (writes "Agricola " in the Auckland News) professes to have solved the apple preserving problem. Investing in a Zimmerman drier, and furnishing himself with that useful little implement, an apple peeler, corer, and slicer, all in one, he has • produced an excellent sample of dried apples, which* should take in the market, if he has any to dispose of. Mr Wilson had a small box of his newly-dried fruit at the South Franklin Show, and it looked very nice indeed, superior in colour and appearance to the general run of sun-dried fruit, and all that.it. would require in order to compete with American evaporated fruit would be an attractive packing. I "would suggest to the committee of the South Franklin Agricultural Society that in future years they offer prizes for evaporated fruits, as this is an industry .that should be taken up by the settlers in every district, and it might be taken up without incurring much outlay. These evaporators can be had at reasonable prices, from about £10 upwards, according to size, and fruit-growers might co-operate in obtaining them, and by such a course there would be no necessity for fruit to rot under the trees because a market cannot be found for it. What is the state of matters just now? Why, on the one .hand there are universal complaints about the glut of fruit in the markets, and how it has to be almost given away at auction so as to get rid of it. On the other hand, for dried fruits, which should be largely used in the season, consumers have to depend almost exclusively upon what is produced by the enterprising Americans. Now, having got the fruit, the next'thingistointroduce these useful evaporators, which are capable of drying, not only apples, but peaches, plums, pears, and other fruits, as well as vegetables. This is what I has been stated in favour of evaporated fruit :— " Once seen and tasted, evaporated fruit can never after be confounded with the common sun or kiln dried; and when we consider the rapid growth of our population and the imperative need of a bountiful supply of wholsome, clean, and cheap food, there can be no reasonable doubt that the demand for it must increase as fast as the supply increases. These fruits and vegetables have been approved by our Government (American), and have been supplied to nearly every army station in the world. They ar • argely used in .asylums, hotels, and families." As to the Zimmerman, the driersa •? cf several sizes/ No. 2 being best suited } general use. It is 6ft high, 2ft deep, x i ,26inwide. Below is a furnace for theEu I this has a door to the front, and theft t t; can be looked after without opening the di rof the drying chamber. In the bottom are dampers to regulate the admission of air, which entering, is heated by contact with the furnace, then passes among the fru.it, and out through a covered chimney at the top. Thus there is a continuous upward .current, which in the larger driers is in creased by so connecting the smoke pipe with the ventilating pipe that the ascending current from the furnace helps the upward '• draft. .Trays or racks of galvanised wire are proyi&d; to^hQld. the, fruife, an 4 these rest upon ledges placed at the sides. The affair

is portable, and may be xtsed out of doors.or inside, where it can be- connected with » chimney. By allowing the drying to- go on in wet weather, the Zimmerman prevents the great loss attendant upon the old method of drying, while the exclusion of light, .of flies, and dust, joined with the rapidity with which drying is done, removes obstacles to the best results.