458 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



Alcoholic vapor as a fruit -preservative. In connec- 

 tion with cold storage, it may be possible to experi- 

 ment with the "new process for keeping fruit fresh," 

 which was published in 1895 by the Department of 

 State (Bureau of Statistics, by Henry P. DuBellet, 

 Consul at Rheims, France), and distributed by the 

 Division of Pomology of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture : 



"The great difficulty experienced in preserving fruits in their 

 natural state is such that the dealers who make the attempt of 

 furnishing them out of season are compelled, on account of the 

 heavy losses they sustain, to sell their goods at prices which ren- 

 der it impossible for the great majority of families to place fresh 

 fruits on their tables during the winter months. The high prices 

 which fresh fruits command on the city markets increase day by 

 day from the time they are gathered, and have induced orchard 

 and vine owners to run many risks in order to keep their fruits 

 as long as possible before offering them for sale. And it is not 

 surprising that no pains, efforts, and sacrifices are spared to 

 reach the coveted result, when it is known that during these last 

 years, first-class grapes sold from 2 to 4 francs (38.6 to 77.2 

 cents) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) from September to November, 

 that they were worth 8 francs ($1.53.4) and as much as 12 francs 

 ($2.31.6) in February and March, and 14 francs ($2.70) in April 

 and May. 



"These exorbitant prices show plainly how imperfect are yet 

 the means employed for keeping fruits fresh, how few must be 

 the successful efforts, and how many the difficulties encountered. 

 The solution of this question is, therefore, of great interest to 

 all, and the result of the experiments made in the latter part of 

 the year 1894 and lately reported to the Horticultural Society of 

 Soissons by Mr. A. Petit, chief of the laboratory of horticultural 

 researches at the National Horticultural School of Versailles, de- 

 serves the attention and consideration of fruit-growers through- 

 out the United States. 



