Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-01
Fruit Drying by Wholesale.
4 SUGGESTION.

We find in the last number of the
HuSbdRdman letter from an intelli.
gent and experienced correspondent
of the "Elmira Farmers Club" on the
subject Of fruit drying, which We re.
produce below. At first it may seem
untimely to discuss the subject of
drying fruit, before the blossoms for
the season have yet appeared, but we
deem the "cheesc factory plan" sug-
gcsted by Mr.. llinckley, the key to
success, and publish it now that time
may be had for consummating ar
rangements before the fruit ripens.
The successful drying in the best
and most attractive manner of our
surplus fruit might prove one Of the
"small matters of the farm alluded
to last week which would help make
the difference between profit and loss
in the operations of many n Centre
county farmer:
FREDONiA, y. Y, March %, 1870.
w. A. Armstrong-.Ssrreitry Fdrmcr's
Club In the club reports of the 26th
instant, information in regard to eyap.
orators and evaporting fruit, is sought
for. a seasons experience in this line
leads me to the conclusion that cvapor.
atOrs, on a small scale, or. what may be
called, farm eyaporators, will not meet
the expectations of those who invest in
them. The expenses of running what
are called farm eyaporators are proper
tionately greater than those OF larger
size. The eyaporated fruit is not so
uniform in quality and the opportuni.
ties for selling small or family lots at
satisfactory prices limited. The super.
iorty of eyapoTated fruits consists in
their being left in such condition that
when the water expelled Is restored,
little difference can he detected be.
tween them and the fruits in their nat
ural state. TO accomplish this all the
processes must be % rapid as possible
without injury TO the fruit, as chemical
changes and decomposition set in at
once after the preparation is made. To
secure the best results it requires skill.
experience and close attention, such "a
farmers as they are usually situated can
not individually well give. think the
better way would be for the farmers of
neighborhood to adopt the cheese
factory plan. by uniting in the purchase
of an evaporator of sufficient capacity
to work up the fruit OF the entire neigh.
borhood, and place the management
in the hands OF one of their number
who can devote his entire time and
thought to il while in operation or
sell their fruit and let the business pass
into the hands of those who will give
it their undivided attention.
This subject is one of importance 10
many OF the farmers and fruit growers
of this State. With them the question
of profit or loss for the year depends
largely upon a favorable disposal Of sur.
plus fruit. especially the apple crop.
The last years stock of common dried
apples has brought only three cents per
pound, while evaporated have brought
three or four times that sum. Three
cents per pound is equal TO fifteen cents
per bushel for apples in green state,
with all the wear and tear and labor OF
drying thrown away, as il takes on an
average four and one.half bushels of
green apples 10 make one Of dried.
My experience has been with an evap.
crater called the Automatic" 1t
seems TO combine all the desirable Quail
tiles that can be expected in an eyapor.
ater. IL is comparatively cheap, sim.
pie In construction, easily managed,
utilizing all the heat and turns out fruit
of the best quality. Many have par.
taken Of our apples when cooked and
supposed they were eating green fruit.
This evaporater consists of furnace,
q hotair reservoir containing n cover.
nor 10 distribute the heat evenly upon
the trays, and q series Of twenty FIVE
trays four and one half inches deep
resting upon the hot-air reservoir, and
80 constructed that wnen placed one
upon the other they form an air.tieht
shalt, except at the top which IL open
for the escape of moisture. The fur.
mace is placed in basement, or cellar.
and reaches to the floor above. I'm.
mediately over the furnace and upon
the floor the hot sir reservoir Ii placed
and the trays in line above this and
reaching into the story above. The
fruit Is put in at The bottom of the
shaft, and by an ingenious application
| OF crank or lever power, the whole