The Holt County sentinel., 1895-06-14
A New Fruit Preserver-

n NC" 1Ic8eIVeI-
The methods Of preserving fruit have
made wonderful progress within the
past half century. Ia the early days of
many now living, the only known method
was by drying, or preserves" Neither
Of these two methods retained the flavor
OF the fruit in its natural condition.
Preserves are too r,ch and sweet for
daily table use in any considerable guam
tity, and dried fruit by the methods
prevailing years ago did not compare
with the evaporated fruit OF the present
Preservation by canning was a great
step forward and now We have the prom
ise If still another method that was sug
gested to Mr.. Frank Smith, the borax
king Of the Pacific coast, by gentleman
who was lunching with hlm. They were
discussing the success that had attained
the experiment Of boraxing fresh meat,
when Mr.. Smith WAS asked why he had
never tried preserving fruit in the same
way. He Immediately gave the matter
his attention and packed several pounds
Of cherries in box Of powdered borax.
This box was placed in the cellar and
along side OF it he put large glass dish
filed with the same kind Of fruit, and
then he awaited developments. The
next day he visited the cellar and found
the cherries in the dish were beginning
to turn. After three days they were 80
decompOsed It was necessary to throw
them away. TAe packed cherries were
not disturbed for three weeks, at the
termination Of which time the box was
opened and the fruit was found as fresh
and in as good condition as when first
placed there. Mr.. Smith was amazed al
the results ard determined to expert
ment on larger scale. He had guam
tity Of cherries packed in a barrel OF
borax and sent to Chicago by SLOW
freight. He received telegram last
month, stating that the fruit had ar
rived in perfect condition and was bring
ing surprisingly high prices. Since then
q number OF barrels OF cherries have
been packed in bOrax and are now en-
route east from California. The expert.
ments are to be continued with Other
varieties Of fruits and If they are equal,
successful, California will begin the
shipment Of fruit by this method moi
| al, 10,
This discovery may prove Of great
value to Iowa, Illinois and Missouri
indeed, to the whole country, as it will
encourage the raising Of fruit for ship
ment abroad. Within the past ten years
considerable fr1it has beer shipped to
England from the United States and II
has been hoped to make it a profitable
export trade. II the borax method OF
preserving fruit proves to be reliable
this trade abroad can be largely in
creased. We do not see why the process
cannot be advantaeeously used ir the
shipment OF apples, pears an! peaches.
There is no apparsp. reason Why Hol:
county and nJrthewst Missouri, SD we'll
favored IN climate, may not renew their
youth, 30 To speak, in fruit raising aud
make this the leading industry. There
is money IN fruit raising il handled IN the
right way. 1t will not pay to raise poor
fruit; the demand is for the best quail
ties and TO be able to supply the market
out of season. The method OF preserv-
ing whole fruit as proposed will greatly
increase the consumption. The cost Of
shipping fruit by slow freight is small
and this will add to the profits Of the
producers. and the packing is so simple
and 30 easily done that there is no rea
son why farmers should not pack their
own crops aud sell from their own places