The Dickinson press., 1888-12-01
EyAp0RATED FRUIT.
GLIMPSE OF THE DRIED FRUIT IN.
pusThY OF WESTERN NEW YORK,
Tho Orchards of tho Farming Community
the Chief Sources of Their wealth-Ex.
tent of the Drying Business-Cost Of
TrnnSnOrta inu-CnnSnmnfior,

~" orc"aFus OF the EARNING Community
the Chief Sources of Their wealth-Ex-
tent of the Drying Business-Cost of
Observation-Disclosures
Rochester is the recognized center Of the
evaporate'l and dried fruit Industry Of the
United States. which during recent years has
assumed very large proportions, the goods
beng ship ed in large quantities to all Of the
leading markets Of the world No finer fruit
Is produced OH this continent than is grown
III the territory embraced under the name of
western New York, comprising some twelve
OF the most fertile and richest counties of
the Empire state. The cultivation Of fruit.
especially apples, has superseded all other
agricultural products and has proved the
most reminerative to the growers. The or
cliards OF tho farming community are tho
ciief sources OF their wealth, and the indus
try Is Sprosecuted with unabated vigor, largely
aided by tho experience, skill and resources
OF tio great nurseries of Rochester, famed
throughout the world
Thousands of tons Of apples arc produced
every season from II quality Of fruit hereto
tore wasted and allowed to rot on the
ground, and which now forms nice income
TO tho grower. 1t il i'll tho utilization of these
waste products that the desiccation of fruit
becomes valuable and indispensable nd junct
10 every fruit grower, and tho business may
peconsldered rs yet i'll its infancy
EXTENT OF THE BUSINESS.
Within radius Of forty miles of Rochester
There arc moro than 500 cvaporators, from
the small farm house drier, of capacity of
twenty-five bushels Il day, to the large steam
evaporators. drying 500 to 1000 bushels of
apples each twentyfour hours These eva
porators give employment during tho autumn
and early winter months to at least 30 600
hands, who average from IS to sl2 week.
according to experience and usefulness.
New factories arc erected every season. prov
ing that tho business is profitable when pro-
perry ana economically conducted. Constant
caro- and scrupulous cleanliness arc the first
clements of success in evaporatine good
fruit.
Tho production during tho season of 1857
may be well considered tho largest since the
inception of tho business, some fifteen Years
ago. careful estimate places the total
quantity at nbout &c. 100000 pounds, worth ut
first cost some s2,OU0,0DO. To produce this
quantity of apples it required 5000, 600 BUSH
els OF anplcs, $4,000 tons anthracite coal. and
tho constant attendance, night and day, of
nn army of men, women and children. num-
mated in tho process of evaporation amounted
to ?25 600 TONS reducing tho bulk of the Green
fruit to about one-eighth of its original
weight, each 100 pounds yielding when prop.
erly evaporatcd twelve pounds on an aver.
age. Tho fruit is usSllly packed in cases OF
Two cuolt feet measurement, holding fifty
pounds net, the product of say eight and one.
half bushels of green apples.
COST OF TRANSPORTATION
The advantages in freight alone will be
apparent from tho following comparison,
showing tho cost of shipping one case to
Liverpool, England. which ut existing
freight rates will cost little less than thirty
cents, while in tho green or fresh state in
barrels tho same quantity would cost so25
hnd III tho canned state almost ST. 10, without
considering the deterioration of the green
fruit und the dangers of fermentation to the
canned article. the apple In the evaporated
state being transported without any danger
OF deterioration or decay. Tho refuse of the
apples such as tho parings and cores, are
dried and form tho base Of all the cheap jel-
lies manufactured at present Tho ouan-
tlty produced last season will aggregate some
l9,ooJ,oOo pounds, so that not particle of
tho fruit is wasted.
Ihe principal consuming countries abroad
aro Germany, England, Belgium, Holland
anu France, in which tho now product has
entirely displaced tho old fashioned sun dried
fruit. There wcre shipped alone to France
during 1887 some $4,000 barrels of quality
known us chopped or sliced apple, which is
dried without being either pared or cored,
and is used chiefly for tho production Of
cider, cheap wines and dstillation when the
vineyards Of France suffer from tho phyllox-
era. Some 100000 pounds were exported
during tho season, of which moro than one
half were shipped from Rochester.-Brad-
streets