FRUIT-ROOM FOR KEEPING. 



4:1 



.. . 



^- Movable frame for sus- 

 pendin g the Grapes. 



form of an S. (Fig. 26.) 

 Attached thus, they are 

 less likely to rot, because 

 the berries 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 

 to the ceiling, and made 

 movable with two pulleys. 

 Having thus all the fruit 

 Fig. ?6. Method of disposed in the fruit room. 

 suspemhng^ciusters t | 1(3 doors an( j shutters are 



opened during eight or ten 



days, to deprive the fruit of the superabundant moisture ; and after 

 this has been done, a fine dry day is chosen to cl-se the fruit roon 

 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 drying-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 ex- 

 terior ; 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 IA 

 this case, we recommend the use of chlorine of calcium. This 

 substance has the property 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 

 To use chlorine of calcium, a wooden box is 

 made (fig. 28, a,) one foot and a hall 

 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 chlo- 

 rine of calcium, after having absorbed a 

 certain quantity of moisture, becomes 

 liquefied, and runs into the earthenware 

 vase, d, placed underneath for the pur- 

 pose. Should the chlorine become dis- 

 solved before the total consumption of the 

 fruits, the dose must be renewed ; in 

 which case, the liquid in the vase, if put 



in a pan. and placed above the fire, becomes again chlorine of calcium, 

 and as good for use as before. 



in the best condition. 



