FRUIT-ROOM FOR KEEPING. 



43 



Fig. 26. Method of sus 



pending: clusters of 



Grapes. 



>pair of scissors, and 

 fixed the reverse way 

 to a metalic hook, of 

 the form of an S, {fig. 

 26.) Attached thus, 

 they are less likely to 

 rot, because the ber- 

 ries are placed in a 

 freer position, and do 

 not touch each other. 

 They are hooked to 

 one or two hoops, as 

 shown at fig. 27, and 

 suspended with a cord 

 cord to the ceiiinn. and 



Fi£ 



27. ifnvable fr;iii:e for sus- 

 pending the (jrapes. 



made movable with two 

 pulleys. Having thus all the fruit disposed in the fruit room, the 

 doors and shutters are opened during eight or ten davs, to deprive 

 the fruit of the superabundant moisture ; and after this has been 

 done, a fine dry day is chosen to close the fruit room hermetically. 

 The doors are no more opened, except for the work necessary to be 

 done in the interior. Until now, no other mode was known of dry- 

 ing-up superabundant moisture in fruit rooms during winter, except 

 by permitting a greater or less current of air to pass through the 

 apartment. The inconveniences this plan presents are obvious; the 

 interior temperature will change according to the exterior; and, bad 

 as this plan is, if the thermometer stands under freezing point, no 

 use can be made of it at all ; hence, the fruit must be abandoned to 

 chance, and disappointment will soon follow. In this case we recom- 

 mend the use of chlorine of calcium. This substance has the prop- 

 erty of absorbing about double its own weight of moisture, when it 

 becomes liquid after being exposed for a certain length of time to a 

 humid atmosphere, produced by the moisture emitted by the fruit. 

 It is thus suited to maintain the atmosphere in the best condition. 



To use chlorine of calcium, a wooden 

 box is made (fg. 28, a,) one foot and a 

 half square by three inches deep, and 

 placed upon a table 6, which is at the 

 side, c, an inch lower than on the other. 

 The chlorine of calcium, after having 

 absorbed a certain quantity of moisture, 

 becomes liquefied, and runs into the 

 earthenware vase, d, placed underneath 

 for the purpose. Should the chlorines 

 become dissolved before the total con- 

 sumption of the fruits, the dose must be 

 renewed ; in which case, the liquid in the vase, if put in a pan, and 



Fig. 28 



Box for using the Chlorine 

 of Calcium. 



