AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING FRUIT
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING FRUIT."―A
communication from abroad by Samuel E. Sewall, of Melrose, and
Joseph G. Loring, of Boston, both in Massachusetts, United States
of America.
Sealed the 28th February 1871, and dated the 27th December 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th December 1870.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," South-
ampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF AND COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING
FRUIT," a communication, to be as follows:—
My Invention is founded upon the recent discovery in vegetable
physiology, that the rotting of fruits is produced by fungoid vegetation,
and that if the spores of such fungi can be prevented from germinating
or growing, the fruit can be preserved from decay for an indefinite

page_text: period. I have discovered that sulphur in its pure or uncombined form
possesses the property of preventing the growth of fungoid vegetation
and arresting fermentation.
According to my Invention application is made of this discovery for
the purpose of preserving fruit and vegetables by preventing the growth
of fungoid vegetation, and arresting fermentation and decay by methods
the same or substantially the same as those herein-after set forth, or
by any other equivalent methods which embody the practical application
of the aforesaid discovery.
In practising the first part of this Invention I either pack the fruit 1
which it is desired to preserve in layers of pulverized sulphur, or I roll
the fruit in such powder and then pack it in paper; or I put the
flowers of sulphur or pulverized sulphur into papers in which the fruit
is enveloped, or sulphurize the interior of boxes, casks, or other packages
in which the fruit is to be kept or transported, either by smearing their ]
interiors with pulverized sulphur or flowers of sulphur, or I paint the
interior of such boxes, casks, or packages with sulphur in a melted
state or condense the vapor of sulphur on the interior of such casks,
boxes, or packages.
The sulphur alone applied in any of the ways above described will be 2
found efficient for preserving the fruit from decay, but I find it more
advantageous to mix the flowers of sulphur with charcoal produced
from cork, or the charcoal produced from any light porous wood or other
vegetable matters, such as peat, the charcoal acting as an antiseptic,
preventing putrefaction and fermentation, and absorbing with great s
avidity all gaseous emanations and moisture, and thus co-operating with
the sulphur in keeping the fruit clear from matter that would engender
fermentation and promote the growth of parasitic fungi.
Although I may use sulphur alone in any of the ways above specified,
or sulphur mixed with any form of charcoal, I prefer to pack the fruit
in either of the ways mentioned above with pulverized sulphur mixed
with pulverized charcoal produced from cork.
According to the second part of my Invention I produce a paper
which being used for wrapping or packing fruit intended for trans-
portation or preservation effectually preserves them from decay. To ;
make this paper I mix the flowers of sulphur or pulverized sulphur with
the pulp of paper in the same manner as clay or other earthy or mineral
material is mixed with paper pulp while in the vats. The paper is manu-

page_text: factured in other respects as in the ordinary methods. The paper so
produced may be used for wrapping fruit and vegetables in the same
manner as ordinary paper.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Build-
ings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said George Haseltine, Her special
licence that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Haseltine, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN
IMPROVED MODE OF AND COMPOSITION FOR PRESERVING FRUIT," a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Samuel E. Sewall, of Melrose, and Joseph
G. Loring, of Boston, both in Massachusetts, United States of America,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Haseltine,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
--

page_text: My Invention is founded upon the recent discovery in vegetable
physiology that the rotting of fruits is produced by fungoid vegetation,
and that if the spores of such fungi can be prevented from germinating
or growing the fruit can be preserved from decay for an indefinite period.
I have discovered that sulphur in its pure or uncombined form possesses
the property of preventing the growth of fungoid vegetation and arresting
fermentation.
According to my Invention application is made of this discovery for
the purpose of preserving fruit and vegetables by preventing the growth
of fungoid vegetation and arresting fermentation and decay by processes
the same or substantially the same as those herein-after set forth, or by
any other equivalent processes which embody the practical application
of the aforesaid discovery.
In practising the first part of this Invention I either pack the fruit
which it is desired to preserve in layers of pulverized sulphur; or I roll
the fruit in such powder and then pack it in paper; or I put the flowers of
sulphur or pulverized sulphur into papers in which the fruit is enveloped;
or sulphurize the interior of boxes, casks, or other packages in which
the fruit is to be kept or transported, either by smearing their interiors
with pulverized sulphur or flowers of sulphur; or I paint the interior of a
such boxes, casks, or packages with sulphur in a melted state; or con-
dense the vapour of sulphur on the interior of such casks, boxes, or
packages.
The sulphur alone, applied in any of the ways above described, will be
found efficient for preserving the fruit from decay, but I find it more 2
advantageous to mix the flowers of sulphur with charcoal produced from
cork, or the charcoal produced from any light porous wood, or other
vegetable matters such as peat, the charcoal acting as an antiseptic,
preventing putrefaction and fermentation, and absorbing with great
avidity all gaseous emanations and moisture, and thus co-operating a
with the sulphur in keeping the fruit clear from matter that would
engender fermentation and promote the growth of parasitic fungi.
Although I may use sulphur alone in any of the ways above specified,
or sulphur mixed with any form of charcoal, I prefer to pack the fruit in
either of the ways mentioned above with pulverized sulphur mixed with a
pulverized charcoal produced from cork.
This process of preserving fruit is specially applicable to oranges,
limes, lemons, and other perishable fruits, and it may also be applied to

page_text: the preservation of grapes, apples, pears, plums, and even to potatoes,
turnips, and other vegetables. The pulverized sulphur, the sulphur
mixed with pulverized cork, charcoal, or either or both of these sub-
stances mixed with pulverized cork or with dry sawdust for purposes of
economy may be used in packing grapes and other fruit, and will
prevent their decay. Peaches, if first wrapped in paper, may also be
kept from decaying by packing them in sulphur, or in sulphur and
charcoal, the paper keeping the powdered sulphur from becoming attached
to the skin of the fruit. The sulphur may also be applied, though with
less advantage, when mixed with any vegetable chaff or any finely divided
dry vegetable material.
According to the second part of my Invention I produce a paper which
being used for wrapping or packing fruit intended for transportation or
preservation effectually preserves them from decay as above stated. I
have discovered that flowers of sulphur used in the packing of fruit
effectually prevents the growth of fungoid vegetation and arrests fer-
mentation, and the object of this part of my Invention is so to combine
sulphur with paper that fruit wrapped in such paper may be indefinitely
preserved. To make this paper I mix the flowers of sulphur or pulverized
sulphur with the pulp of paper in the same manner as clay or other
earthy or mineral material is mixed with paper pulp while in the vats.
This paper is manufactured in other respects as in the ordinary methods,
and may be used for wrapping fruit and vegetables in the same manner
as ordinary paper.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
First. The method of preserving fruit by means of sulphur in its pure
or uncombined form, substantially as described.
Second. The method of preserving fruit by means of sulphur in a
pulverulent form, substantially as described.
Third. The method of preserving fruit by means of pulverized sulphur
and pulverized charcoal combined, substantially as described.
Fourth. The method of preserving fruit by means of pulverized sulphur
and pulverized cork or any finely divided dry vegetable material, sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: Fifth. A box, cask, or any other receptacle for fruit coated on its inner
surface with sulphur or impregnated with the same as and for the purpose
set forth.
Sixth. Paper impregnated with flowers of sulphur or pulverized sulphur
for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
Witness,
W. J. Lowe.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)