68 AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND THE FARMER : 



of colour retention has been studied in some detail. It has been 

 discovered that preserves heated above a certain degree rapidly 

 change colour. In the case of the majority of green fruits, this 

 change is to brown. Investigation into methods of prevention 

 have already yielded satisfactory results, and data will shortly 

 be available in this direction. 



Preliminary investigations have also been carried out in 

 reference to crystallised fruits; the bottling of fruits — the uses 

 of syrups in this connection ; and the prevention of fermentation 

 and putrefaction. 



Another side to the Station's work is that of education. It 

 is the chief centre from which information on the most improved 

 methods of the preserving of fruit and vegetables is obtainable. 

 Courses of instruction are given to meet the needs of the general 

 public, and also those of Domestic Science Teachers ; the latter — 

 who come from all parts of the country — attend a special Course 

 provided for them each year. This special Course is the only one 

 of its kind available in this country. 



The above is a brief account of the main results of recent 

 research work at the three Institutions concerned, but it is not 

 complete, for it omits the important investigations into fruit 

 tree pests which have been carried out at Long Ashton and East 

 Mailing. For the sake of uniformity, however, these have been 

 reserved for consideration in the next chapter, which is devoted 

 to the subject of plant diseases. 



