Section IV., 1894. [ 145 ] Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada. 



XL — On the Preservation of Fruits in Chemical Fluids for Museum Purposes. 



By Wm. Saunders, F.L.S., F.C.S., Director Experimental Farms. 



<Read May 25, 1894.) 



During the summer of 1885 the writer was requested to prepare for the Canadian 

 Government a collection uf such fruits as could be obtained that year grown in Canada, and 

 to endeavour to preserve them in antiseptic solutions, so that they might be shown at the 

 Indian and Colonial Exhibition to be held in London, England, during the summer of 1886. 



Having undertaken this work, I carried on an extensive series of experiments with 

 many sorts of fruits, trj-ing the eifect of solutions of a number of antiseptic substances. I 

 also corresponded with many botanists, pathologists and physiologists in the endeavour to 

 gain some information, or at least to have the help of suggestions in this field, which at that 

 time seemed to be almost entirely new. A large number of tests wei'e made, involving many 

 failures. Among the materials used which were found unsuitable for variovis reasons were 

 solutions of several of the arsenites, carbolic acid, corrosive chloride of mercury, chloride of 

 sodium, glycerine, sugar and strong mixtures of alcohol and watei\ Finally, however, a 

 good measure of success was i-eached, and about 1,000 bottles and jars of fruits were pre- 

 served in a fairly good and natural condition. The chemicals used as preservatives on this 

 occasion were chiefly solutions of salicylic acid, boric acid, hydrate of chloral and sulphurous 

 acid, the fluid consisting of water mixed with about 25 per cent of alcohol. The sulphur- 

 ous acid was only used where white or yellow fruits had to be preserved, or where discolor- 

 ation of the specimens had occurred from any cause. The bleaching effect of this acid gave 

 the fruits preserved in it a handsome but sometimes an unnatural appearance. This exhibit 

 was on the whole a successful one, and formed a very attractive feature in the Canadian 

 court, and the fruits placed on the trophy in ^Lvy remained in fair condition to the close of 

 the exhibition in Octoljer. Unfortunatel}- the jars were returned empty, and hence nu 

 opportunity was given of ascertaining how long the specimens would have continued to 

 maintain a natural appearance. 



"When the World's Columbian Exposition was decided on, a series of experiments was 

 begun at the experimental farm, at my request, by my son, Dr. C. E. Saunders, who tried 

 the efiect of many preservative solutions on fruits of différent sorts, and on the experience 

 thus gained much of the subsequent treatment was based. At the Indian and Colonial 

 Exhibition all the strawberries had spoilt for the reason that the fluids used were too dense, 

 and as a consequence the specimens floated on the top of the fluid, where they crowded and 

 pressed each other into a shapeless mass. Kerosene oil was found to be the most satisfactory 

 fluid for preserving strawberries, having just about the right density to allow them to settle 

 to the bottom of the jar. 



Sec. IV., 1894. 19. 



