940 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN Xi:w YORK STATE 



profitable in the average year to evaporate a better quality of 

 apples and thus meet the demand of the trade for a high-grade 

 product. 



When apple crops are short and the resulting prices are high, 

 only the lower grades can economically be used for evaporation. 



The present season of 1915 ends with an unusual condition, 

 for, owing to scarcity, the price of cider apples has advanced, and 

 very large proportions of medium-grade apples and even wind- 

 falls have been barreled, a large shortage for the purpose of evap- 

 oration being thus created. 



PROCESS OF EVAPORATION 



The process of evaporation consists in reducing the moisture 

 content of the fruit by heating to a point where it will neither 

 decay nor become sour, and will still retain its flavor and all fruit 

 juices possible, 27 per cent being the legal state requirement. 

 In the early stages a high temperature is desired in order to scar 

 over the surface and so aid in retaining flavor and juices. After- 

 ward the temperature is gradually lowered so as to reduce the 

 moisture content to the desired amount. 



The products of primitive methods are called " sun dried/' or 

 " dried," apples and are small in volume in this state ; the com- 

 mercial products are named from the practice, u evaporated 

 apples." 



EARLY HISTORY OF EVAPORATING APPLIANCES 



The first of the appliance used was the cook stove attachment, 

 consisting merely of a small galvanized iron box with trays for 

 holding the fruit. It was used to a limited extent and only for 

 a short time. 



The second appliance on the market was the Topping portable 

 evaporator. This patent was purchased by Mason L. Rogers, of 

 Williamson, who built the first drier, made several changes, and 

 finally sold it to Mr. Charles Topping, of Marion, who continued 

 the manufacture to considerable extent. The evaporator was rec- 

 tangular in form and was made almost entirely of wood. The racks 

 were inserted from the sides, it had a furnace running lengthwise 

 of the bottom under the racks and a ventilator extending the entire 

 length of the roof-shaped top. Wood was largely used for fuel. 



