Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-16
An Important Industry-'Sug.
xestiOns as TO Drying Fruit.

try frlendS ana Otners VINO are OUT vi
employment just now. He says;
"There is demand for all the dried
fruit that can be prepared for the market
and more especially blacSberries.--
Lexington, High Point, Greensboro,
Winston, and many other places, ship
their millions Of pounds every year,
thereby realizing money more than
equal in amount to all the taxes paid
In their respective counties. There is
undoubtedly an abundant crop in
Mecklenburg and the surrounding
counties, every one of which, il properly
dried, will sell as readily as cotton or
four
Now, why not go to work and erect
drying houses. They may be gotten up
very cheaply, and by their aid any ordi-
nary boy or girl can make from so cts.
to SLIGO per day drying berries. have
known ladies in the country who havc
made their sl.00 per day when berries
sold at cents per pound, with the aid
of the dry kiln or house. This may be
made very cheaply; can be built by any
man OF common judgment in one day.
But for the benefit ofthose who have no
idea how to construct dry house, |
give the following directions: Cut poles
say 4 to 6 inches IN diameter, and G and
II feet long, or you can make It larger
if you like, this will give you a house
5xlO inside. Notch them down closely
after which chink and plaster the cracks
so as to make the house air tight; then
cover with plank, tito be had; If not
you may use small poles, laid closely
and covered with dirt. This completes
the house except the door, which Is
usually made by cutting out two Or
three poles, say 4 feet long aud about
3 from the ground, and hanging the
shutter to the upper side, having put
little poles across for joists on which
to lay the trays containing the berries.
A kiln ofthis kind Is usually built on
the side of a hill, where you can dig
a trench iengthwise the house. and
build an arch over this through the
house, OF brick or some kind Of rock
that will stand the fire. Make the arch
so tight As not to ALLOW any smoke to
escape inside the house. Let the arch
extends feet beyond the end OF the
house and build small stack
chimney t. protect your house from the
fire. With house OF these dimensions
YOU can dry upon IN average hvc
bushels pr dly All upr4 il you have
cl ar. >unny weather T. assist the house
IN drynx.
TINS DRY house is useful III drying
your apples, p'ac les, cherries. plum"
and other fruits. FtdiL dried IN a house
of this kind il not ~ l.ille u b. IN
iured by worms rs that dried in TIL
sun alone AnIt'irf advantage is. YOU
can save your fruit in rainy weather aud
dry it much quicker, Cher1by making II
brighter. Herein lies the great secret
of the fancy. bright fruits; they are dried
very quickly. Tl' GU If appl ) ahi
peaches has much /, IL with The valu-
of the fruit when lricl. Apples should
either be cut in m..'liu SID quarters
or thinly sliced. kept entirely s-p,rate
aud dried quickly. Avoid the rain and
dew. Never allow eth r TO tall on the
frat, an it leu Ia to color dark. Peaches
unpecled should he cut in halves to
bring the hest price. Never mix the
halves and quarters; they will onlv sell
as quarters when mixed. Peeled
PEACHES should be sliced thin and uni
formly, dried quickly and kept out OF
the dew or rain. Never allow your
fruit to get too ripe. 1t should be ripe,
but not mellow, to make bright fruit
By observing the above instructions
and then selecting and keeping each
grade separate, parties can save money
that would otherwise be lost by mixing,
as all goods Of that kind are usually
taken by the worst sample.
The above instructions are the result
of an experience Of twenty-five years
dealing in shipping fruits to Northern
and Western markets.