The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-07-12

sonnet HING THAT IS CONSTANTLY
BEING MADE BETTER.

The Day May Not he Far or When
Strawberries. waiermelons ard other
Dclicacics VIII he Kept Untn Mid
winter What Has Been Accomplished.
II a way could be found to keep fruits,
berries and melons fresh for an indefinite
length Of time the public would have
something added to its happiness during
the winter months. Somebody or other
has been trying for years to effect such
a result. but every experiment has met
with failure
There are some things too delicate to
keep long after being pmcked from the
maternal branch
These things are, Of course, also deli
cate 10 tie taste, and that their season is
SO short is what has led 10 the Intellectual
attempts 70 preserve them, SO that they
may be had whom they are uotin season.
MILLIONS or ICE
The nearest thing to the accomplish
mont Of this much desired object arc the
cold storage warehouses. These are
fitted up with huge boilers and great
pumps for forcing brine and ammonia
through the pipes that enter the air tight
compartments. The mixture of brine
and ammonia turns so cold that snow
and ice form thick and solid on the out
side of the pipes. The currents can be
SD regulated by a system of gauges that
amy temperature below zero can be pro
duccl without difficulty.
This system can be utilized to adj
vantage in preserving all things not az
fccicd by frosts I'm New York city at
any season Of the year there are many
millions of dollars worth Of good things
stored away in those places 20 be drawn
out from time TO time as the dealer re-
Quircs them for his trade
ln one great storage house there is csti-
mated TO be at all times from $780, 900
20 $4,000 900 worth of property, in
which, however. is included all concois-
able sorts of expensive eatables and valu-
able skins and furs.
This is how most of tho big furriers
keep the expensive skins from year 10
year There is one thing that moths
cannot stand. and that is low tempera-
me. Such temperature will also keep
skins from hardening and furs from
rgstine Cd the end Of time.
As for poultry there is no telling how
long it can bee kept In prime eating con-
Iuon. SIR T. W. Conklin, Of the firm
3l T. c. Lindc 81 Co., Of the Hudson
River stores, told reporter that they
ha>ea iow Thousand dollars worth OF
poultry which has been in their keeping
formorc than two years This particu-
mr consignment became the subject OF
litigation shortly after it was placed
there, and There it must remain until it
becomes settled who is the owner
Eggs are also kept for an indefinite
period n these storage warehouses by
lowering the temperature Of the room TO
few degrees above freezing. 1t is
claimed that they can be kept in this
say just as fresh as when they are first
Laid. but this is q matter which admits
of some doubt; ut least, most every body,
including the keepers Of "cold storages,
would prefer their eggs direct from the
hen coop.
TlE HARDEST TO KEEP.
The hardest things TO keep arc water
melons. suawberrics-in fact all berries
and peaches The storagos arc seldom
called upon % hold these things more
thau day or two at a time. Strawber-
uos. however. have been kept for over
Sis weeks after their season ended. Mr..
Conhiin had lot for more than month,
and hc has expressed the opinion that if
,hoy could DE placed one by one upon
sack in am even temperature, so that a
current of air could always circle around
.hcm, they could be preserved an entire
year.
The Same method. be thinks, would be
equally sufficient in keeping watermel-
ons. but an editor i'm this town tried this.
bat without any satisfactory result He
wrapped dozen melons IN cotton, and
toward thc end of the season placed them
ina general storage house. being careful
10 spread them apart The season had
hardly opened whom ho received word
that his watcrmclons were rotting lie
did not go after them, though, until the
ir.tof December, and those melons were
,hsn very poor cauus, indeed
Originally they cost s.. but the storage
cost So. so the owner was out $ by the
experiment. and he bad no melon to eat
either
Prncs the cold storage system keeps
I'm fine condition for years. They may
be found ia as soft, fresh and moist con
dition when taken from the cool com
nartmont as they are when first picked.
Vegetables can be kept a great time.
hut there is seldom much need for saving
thcm-ihcy are always so plentiful
The cold storage is always improving
like everything else in this restless, push
ing world, and perhaps before many
wear, Strawberries and watcrmelon5 may
NOT Dee out Of reach in midwiuier. New