The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-10-10
Fruit.ROOnls.

i
it could be, the dangers from the gases
arising from vegetable decomposition
ought to deter us from storing fruit in
these rooms. There is less objection
to fruit cellars under barns and stables,
as the ventilation of such buildings
above is more complete, and the at
mOsphere is not only purer, but cooler
in summer and winter. If q barn Gel
lar can be arranged on q side hill
Qronting south if possible), and so iso-
lated that it is kept free from the odors
of manure, it may be regarded as Il ia
vorablc location. If the barn is not
thus situated, it will be necessary to
make an excavation into the side of
hill, fronting south or west, and cover
it SO as to protect it from frost in win
ter. The cellar should consist of two
apartments, and the partition wall may
be of brick or stone, as is cheapest or
most convenient. The size, of course,
will depend upon the wants of the
fruit-raiser. A frost-proof room, twen-
ty feet square and eight feet high, will
hold the products of a large orchard,
and it may be constructed cheaply. If
two rooms are provided (Which ar
rangement is desirable), the first need
not be frost-proOf, but may be open to
air and light. The object is to secure
a cool, airy room in which to store
fruit during the late autumn months
and into the early winter, if the
weather is mild. A dark, subterranean
room, well protected, cannot be very
dry in moderate weather; therefore it
is best to keep fruit as long as possible
in a more exposed and dryer room, and
when zero weather approaches re-
move it into the frost-proof apartment
at once. Cold air is always dry air,
and the inner room in winter, if prop
erly ventilated, is filled with the cold,
dry air, but above freezing tempera-
ture. The nearer to 81 deg. Fab. the
air is kept without remaining at or
going below that point, the better.
The walls of fruit rooms may be con-
structed of stone, if connected with
farm premises where this material is
abundant, or of brick where stones can
not be readily obtained. If the stone is
employed, a mason to lay up the walls
may not be necessary, as they may be
put up dry and pointed with common
mortar, work which any farmer can do.
A roof supported by firm timbers is
necessary, and space between the
rough board ceiling and the roof, of
one and half or two feet, filled with
straw or hay, or dry sawdust, will pro-
tect from frost unless the climate is
very severe. The roof covering may
be of ordinary tarrcd paper, well put
on with battens, and then painted
heavily with tar or pitch. This roof, if
well constructed, will last tor years. 1t
should come as close to the ground as
possible. The whole of the interior
room should be protected by the ground
on the rear end and sides; the front or
light room need not be so protected.
This should protrude from the hill, and
have at least a couple of windows and
a door. The ventilation of the interior
or winter room should be effected by
opening the inner and Onter doors in
mild weather, and allowing air to flow
in. And here an important caution is
to be Observed-never ventilate or open
the doors of the winter cellar on very
mild, damp days; select clear dry days,
when the thermometer is just above
freezing, for airing the rooms. The
reason for this is obvious. If the air of
the cellar and stored fruit is colder
than the admitted external air, con-
dcnsation of moisture takes place and
everything becomes covered with dew,
which is injurious to fruit. This does
not take place on cold, clear days. Be
cautious in the spring in opening the
inner cellar, as by admitting warm,
moist air great injury is done.
In this arrangement for storing fruit,
it is kept dry and cool before it is
placed in winter quarters. If this dry
condition is secured in mild weather,
oxidizing influences are kept at bay
during the cold weather, and the fruit
comes out in the spring sound and
fresh. The barrels in which it is stored
should not stand on end; pile them up
one upon another, the ends horizontal.
Journal Of Chemistry.