The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-18
BLEACHING NUTS.
Results of Experiments at the Agri-
cultural Station.
Professor uilgard Has Something Il
Say of Great Importance to the
Growers of Nuts.

Professor Hilgard, Director Of the Ag-
ricultural Experiment Station at the
Stale University has issued the following
bulletin, which will interest sll grower
of nuts:
The commercial requirement that the
shells of nuts offered for sale shall have q
light and uniform tint has caused the
process of sulphuring, so generally APP
piled TO drying fruits. to be applied to
them. This process, however, is not only
often unsatisfactory as regards the result
desired. but even the strongest partlsans
of fruit-sulphuring admit that almonds
and walnuts are frequently injured IN
their flavor by the neediul prolonged
treatment in the sulphur box. This ls
inevitable 80 long as the latter is charged
with column of trays of which the
lower portion is necessarily oversul-
phured, If those at the upper end are to
receive any effect at ali. The result is
that the shell of the fruit below is cor
roded C'rotted"l, and the flavor of the
kernel is lost. To some extent this can
be avoided 10y using only few trays. but
i'll any case the process Is very unsatls-
factory when the fruit is spotted by rain
or otherwise.
At the suggestion of several large grow
ers of nuts, experiments have been I'M
dertaken in the laboratory OF this station
for the purpose of devising more satisfac-
tory methods and securing uniformity of
bleaching action; which, OF course, is best
accomplished by using bleaching dip OF
definite strength. into which the nuts can
be dipped for a definite minimum time.
OF cheap aud readily procurable bleach
ing agents suitable for the purpose,
bleaching powder also called chloride OF
lime) and bi-sulphite of lime used in
bleaching sugar cane iuices) are most
available. Our experiments thus far APP
pear TO show that the corresponding soda
compounds act more rapidly and satistac-
torily. The soda-chlorine compound is
easily obtained from the commercial
bleaching powder by mixing the solu-
ton with proper proportion OF sal-soda.
The bi-sulphite of lime is doubtless OBJ
tainable at New Orleans.
The chloride of lime or soda, used
alone, is apt to continue to act for some
time in the shells of aim onds. sottening
them and turning them Il whitish and
slight mawkish odor. This can be pro-
vented and bright, natural color as
sured by following up with dip Of the
bi-sulphite, or by very light sulphuring.
1t should, of course be understood that
badly stained nuts, to which pulp of the
outer shell adheres, can aud should be
cleaned-preparatorv to bleaching-bes
IL
alone, or, more ettectually. with water
containing from 3 to 3 per cent. OF sal
soda.
Very satisfactory results have been OBJ
tanned by US by operating as follows: The
nuts, placed in cane or splint bask ct
such as Chinese use for carryingl. are
dipped for about five minutes into solu-
ton containing TO every fifty gallons of
water, six pounds of bleaching powder
and twelve pounds of salsoda. They
are then riused with a hose, and after
draining again dipped into another solu
ton containing l per cent. OF biSulphite
OF lime; after the nuts have assumed the
desired tint. again rinsed with water and
then dried. Instead of the second dip
ping, the nuts may be sulphured for ton
or fifteen minutes.
The cost OF fifty gallons of the chlorine
dip will be about forty cents; the same
bulk OF the bisulphide dip, probably con-
slderably less; the time occupied in
handling one batch two dips twelve to
fifteen minutes.
Practice on large scale will doubtless
show some advantageous notifications
of the above prescription; but the perfect
ease with which a definite result can be Sc
cured by solutions of definite strength
acting under the eyes OF the operator,
seems TO commend it for general use in
preference to the crude method of the
sulphur box. OF course, nuts that are
cracked open, therefore accessible to the
but not more SO than they are by the sui
phur fumes. For English walnuts either
of the two bleaching dips may be used
alone. l.. w. HILGARD, Director.
Agricultural Experiment Station,
Berkeley, OCTOBER 10, 1895.