Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-09
The Coming Fruit Crop. Its Transpor-
tatton.

The prospect for an abundant frui
crop is all that could be desired
From all parts of Middle Georgia
reports that reach us arc extremel,
favorable. There is however anon,
our old inhabitants solicitude ex
pressed lest an expected cold snap
which it is alleged may be expected
on or about the fifteenth or twentieth
of April, should be sure enough to in
jure materially, if it should not of
entirely, this crop. It is this late
untimely Spring frost-which is said
to occur Two years out of three, al
though not always with the same &C.
verity-which have proved most dis.
astrous to our fruit crops. Whether
or not we are to suffer this year in
this way, by Winter lingering in the
lap of Spring, remains to bo seen,
But tho prospect is now certainly
most favorable.
In the meanwhile, preparations are
being made for the safe and speedy
delivery of fruits and vegetables in
northon markets. .Wo have already
published letter from Mr.. J. G. Der.
by, of New York, announcing that
the steam ships of the charleston lines
arc being fitted up for the transpor-
tation of fruits and vegetables, by
the construction of Rutter's Patent
Fruit Preserving compartments.
The principle designed to DO reached
in Rutters patent, is the reduction
and maintenance of the temperature
OF the compartment, car or bog con-
tanning the fruit to be transported, be-
low that point at which fruits and
vegetables decay. This is to be ac-
compfished by encasing a combina-
tion of ice and other retrierating SUBJ
stances in a tight metallic vessel,
placed sn the centre of the compart-
ment ear Oh box, 81 as to keep the
temperature at the desired point, and
at the same time avoid the ill effects of
humidity which would be given off
by the refrigerating substances. We
have no knowledge of the practical
of this invention in our
but the principle sought to
he intorced is not new, and its appli-
cation seoms feasible and promises
SUCCESS.
But one of the great sources, both
of decay and cost in transportation
arises in tho handling of tho packages
Of fruit. These arc tossed about and
thrown down and often broken; and
the fruit is always, necessarily, more
or less injured and bruised. To obvi-
ate these difficulties we learn that on
some of the transportation lines in
North Carolina and Virginia, fruit
trucks are being constructed, having
latticcd sides and covers Of a given
capacity. These are adapted to bas-
kets and boxes, made light but strong
md set upon crst iron track wheels
The baskets or fruit boxes being we'll |
illed, are arranged compactly within
these trucks, SO as to prevent the |
movement or shifting Of the packa-
,es-the latticed cover is brought |
1own and secured with a spring-pad-
ock (similar to that in use upon mail |
'ags), and tho whole crate or fruit |
'ruch, marked to the consignor, is
'h'pped to the point of destination.
At transhipping points, the transfer is
Effected by drawing the trucks from
'ne car to another, or aboard ships,
md thus all the evils Of frequent han
ling are avoided. It is designed !
'lso, that these trucks shall sebserve
he use Of hucksters in city market
places. a., \
The fruit of Middle Georgia has
lot heretofore been made .svailable !
IS marketable produce, except tola
'ery limited extent. We may reas-
'nably expect, that with increased
aeilities for transportation and pre-
erving the fresh fuits and ~vcgeta-
les, which are being transported,
his branch Of Industrial pursuit will
4 : - Il
% great " developed, and thereby
id greatly to our wealth.-Cbrosiels
Ssatinet.s .. ,, =, ~ y.
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