will vary according to its degrees of soundness, and the temperature of 

 the weather, from two or three days to two or three weeks. But no 

 fruit can keep long at 80° or 90°. Those wishing the henefit of this 

 house should have it in operation in their own neighborhood ; they can 

 then be supplied with every kind when in its best condition. 



CONCLUDING STATEMENTS. 



This House not only combines together all the known conditions of 

 Fruit keeping, but it is thought that it secures them in the cheapest and 

 simplest possible manner. 



1. In a chamber with walls, floors and doors proof against atmos- 

 pheric changes, if the air be exposed to an ice-cold plain surface, — (this 

 is the cheapest as well as the most effective surface possible.) — on the 

 entire upper part, the greatest cold possible by ice alone will be secured. 

 The reason w^e do not gain a temperature below S3J or 34°, is not 

 owing to the want of a sufficiently extended cold surface exposed, — 

 (for the ice may be melted away from the part of the surface above, 

 without sensibly affecting the thermometer below,) — but to the neces- 

 sary, imperfection in walls and doors ; and especially to the action of the 

 absorbent, by emitting the latent heat of vapor, in turning it into liquid. 

 Though there be 1,000 tons of ice upon the upper surface, it does its 

 work from one winter to another, without one hour's additional labor, 

 until the last pound is melted. 



2. Absorbents, as we have shown, are the only known successful 

 means of producing the dryness required, at 33 or 34°. Two men can 

 dry in a single week, enough of fluid waste bittern, being at some salt 

 works 1-G of the entire brine, heretofore running away as useless, to 

 supply a large house a whole year ; and a few hours' woi-k will spread 

 out enough of this absorbent upon the floor to last for months to come. 



3. There is no expense in exhausting oxygen from, and forcing car- 

 bonic acid into, the rooms. The chamber is simply closed and the fruit, 

 in 48 hours, at a very trifling advance, (as the time of doing it in a very 

 cold chamber proves,) in the ripening process, consumes entirely the 

 agent of its own destruction. 



4. Freedom from foreign impurities, and absence of light, are at 

 once necessary results. The equality or sameness of temperature is 

 complete. 



The following letters and testimonials, from distinguished parties, 

 confirm the above view. 



