Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-09
Cheapest and Best Plan of DryiaS


Fruit.
To the Editors OF the southern CultiyatOr:
In the May,number inquiry is made
for the cheapest and best plan for
drying fruits of all kinds. In this
section, the universal practice is to
dry in the sun. Every one who
hiss tried this, knows what trouble,
and very frequently what entire
loss of labor itinvolves Sun dried
fruit cannot be kept free from
worms for year or more. Kiln
dried fruit can be kept several years
without injury, and may be bar
relied or sacked, and conveniently
sent to distant markets. Indeed,
it might be made source of large
profit Recently l read an account
from my native State, North Caro-
lima. From Salem, situated 20
miles from the railroad-too far TO
ship green fruits-one single mer-
chant shipped over 100000 worth
Of fruits; another at Kearnersville,
within 10 miles, shipped an equal
amount. This shows what may be
done. A drying house is indis-
pensable to all who raise fruit. We
have an excellent fruit country; but
l think it doubtful if dozen dry
ing houses could be found in all
West Tennessee. Our crop of fruit
this year is short-small fruits,
however, are plentiful, and an i'm
mense amount Of black berries
might be gathered in the old fields
and shall | say it, the fence corn
ers-kiln- dried and shipped to
Northern markets, at remunerative
prices. Thousands of dollars ought
to be made out of what goes to
waste. Our splendid country is
getting the worse of wear, some
what. A few more years will evil
IDENTIFY teach US how to make the
most of everything about Us, and
how to economist.
l will give cheap plan for con-
structing drying house-a rough
and rude concern, requiring little
labor, but far better than none
one that will answer every purpose,
and it is within the reach of all.
Get round logs, say 5 inches in d.
ameter; make the house II feet long,
s feet wide, notched up log cabin
fashion. Some 3 feet above the
hue (mentioned below put in two
logs, 3 feet apart, to hold the fruit
baskets or "hurts;" above this, an-
other tier may be made, so the
house will hold two dozen "hurts -
enough to make some 4 or 5 BUSH
els Of dried fruit at one time. AT
one end of the house, cut out hole
say 2 feet square, for building q
| fue of rock or brick, the full length
of house, with a chimney to run NJ
on the inside Of the wall; make the
fue perfectly tight, to keep out al
smoke and fire from the inside Of
house; cut out, also, two logs nearly
the length of the house, for win.
dow, to put in and take out the
fruit-this to be kept tightly closed
with a broad shutter; chink anC
daub tight, and the house is com
plete. &c to 40 hours is sufficient
to dry the fruit perfectly, if the
house is kept at a proper tempera
ture. Care should be taken not Il
scorch the fruit. A little experienc,
will soon teach how to manage il
this respect. The fruit baskets o.
hurts" are made Of convenien
size to handle-say 5 or 6 feet long
20 inches wide, constructed of lath
or Stats, , or four inches wide
either sawed or split. A durabl
hurt" can be made without nails
by boring a three-fourth inch auge
, hole in the ends of two stats, an
| one in the middle, with round
! wedged, and Stats waited IN.
In the good old North State,
J all kinds OF fruits, also vegetables
are dried-beans, pumpkins, etc
and last, though not least, perslm
mons-all of which serve goo
. purpose when fresh vegetables an
= fruits are scarce.
II B. f. TRANsoN.
HV-,vpoy nj Tp>yN lima 4 1863