Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-08-01
fro BE coNTrNUED.l
FRUIT PRESERVED IN BoRAx.
Experiments That Have Given Surprising
Results-Family Borax Chests.

Results-Family Borax Chests.
Frank NJ Smith, the borax king, be-
lievos that he has solved the problem OF
preserving fresh fruit so it can be put on
the eastern market in satisfactory condi-
tion. For some time he has been expert
menting with borax and finds the ingredi-
ents Of that salt adapted for prccluding
vegetable decomposition.
The discovery is the result of n sugges-
tion made to Mr. Smith one day while
lunching with friend. The gentlemen
were discussing the success that had at
tended the experiment of boraxing fresh
meat, when Mr.. Smith was asked why ho
had never tried preserving fruit in the
same way. He said it had never occurred
to him, but that afternoon he gave the
subject so much thought that as soon as
he returned to his homo in East Oakland
he packed several pounds Of cherries in
box of powdered borax. This box was
placed in the cellar and alongside of it he
put largo glass dish filled with the same
kind of fruit. Then he awaited develop
ments. The next day he visited the cellar
and found the cherries in the dish were
beginning to turn. In three days they
were so decomposed that it was necessary
to throw them away. In order to make
good test he determined not to disturb the
packed cherries for three weeks. At the
| termination of that time the box was
opened, and the fruit was found as fresh
and In as good a condition as when first
placed there.
Mr.. Smith was amazed, and he was de-
| lighted over the result and determined to
experiment on larger scale. He had a
| quantity of cherries packed in barrel OF
borax and sent to Chicago by slow freight.
Last week he received telegram saying
| the fruit had arrived in perfect condition
and was bringing surprisingly high prices.
Since then number Of barrels Of cherries
| have been packed in borax and are now
ready for shipment east.
As fast as the different varieties of fruit
| ripen experiments will be made by Frank
| G. Havens at Rose Crest Villa, his place
| at Vernon Heights, Oakland. The expert
| ments will be on an extensive scale. As
| the experiments on the different fruits
| provo successful barrels of the fruit will
| bo packed and sent to the east and Europe
| Whenever an experiment Is pronounced
successful it will be published for the
| benefit of growers and commission men
| who may wish to preserve their stock.
"Thore is no patent on this discovery"
| said Mr.. Smith yesterday ''it is free to all.
| I regard it of the utmost value in the
working out of the problem of domestic
| economy The same borax can be used
over and over again, and think of the
| amount of unnecessary domestic waste
that will be avoided by preserving fruit
| this way. Private families, as well as ho-
| tells and restaurants, can have their borax
| bins at small expense, in which they can
| constantly keep an assortment of fresh
fruit. The experiment is as yet in its in
| fancy, and am loath to claim too much
| for it, but from the tests we have made it
| Is reasonable to believe the system of borax
preserving will play an important part in
| the commercial world.
| "There is another question involved in
this discovery that is quite as valuable in
Its way as the waste question, and that is
| the ability it affords to produce fruits out Of
| their natural season. Cherries in the au.
tumn and figs at Christmas. How would
that be? There is money in furnishing
fruits out of season for any one who wants
to take up that line of business. No.
| have not yet considered the possibility Of
| going into the business myself, but am
confident it would be lucrative one,
have not yet gone that far with my plans
| but may put up a warehouse for that pur
pose near the borax refinery in Alameda
The cost of shipping fruit by slow freight
is small and l don't see why farmers
should not pack their own crops and sell
| from their own places.
II have not yet experimental with ber-
ries, but am inclined to think they would
not be success. They are so soft and the
| juice is too near the surface. Neither have
experimental with vegetables, although
I believe they would stand the borax and
keep perfectly. The possibilities of this
mode of preserving are marvellous. After
this season we will know pretty thorough
ly what there is in it. Oregon, Nevada
and California abound in borax, and why
shouldn't people who have small deposits
of this salt on their places use it for pre-
serving their crops?'-San Francisco Ex-
aminer.