THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13109, 18 May 1911, Page 2

THE FRUIT INDUSTRY.

THE STERILISING OF APPLES

Fruit-growers will be interested to learn that the Department of Agriculture has approved of Mr. Herbert Worsiey's process of sterilising, apples for export, experiments in connection with which were carried out in Wellington recently. The method adopted is exceedingly simple, and there appears to be no reason why every grower should not sterilise his own fruit and butter, or any other perishable commodity he may have to export. All that is required is an air-tight box or chamber, fitted inside with a tin tray, upon which is placed the tabloids manufactured, by Mr. Worsley. Heat is applied to the bottom of the tray by means of a lamp; and this dissolves the tabloids, creating the fumes which sterilise the fruit. It is essential that the fruit should be put into the chamber as soon after picking as possible, and that it should he dry, and •vot bruised in any way. Mr. Worsley advises that if apples arc packed in crates and put into tho sterilising chamber at the earliest opportunity, and ?oft under the action of the sterilising vapour all night, it will be found thnt there will he very few in bnd condition on arrival at their destination. It is Mr. Worsiey's wish that fruit growers should have the nse of his experience, and with this id-ca in view, Mr. Worsley explained to Mr. T?.. P. Hudson, President of the Motueka Fruit-growers' Association, and several other prominent fruit-growers, how they could moke their own sterilisino- chnmhors. .We nre informed that within the last month Mr Worslpy hnp "rrinnwl with a firm in Prince Rupert British Columbia, who r^cPntlv sent a representative to Now Zealand to enquire into the process for the periodical supply of these tablets for fruit and meat exporters in Canada.