TIIK LYCIIKK AND U X(iAX IN COM.MKRC.'K 



79 



fruit is dried by means of lire. The round, bamboo trays commonly 

 in use in Chinese villages for drying purposes are about 3 feet in 

 diameter. Square ovens of clay are first constructed. These are two 

 or three feet high and within is placed the Chinese earthen charcoal 

 stove known as fcng lu < fvuig lo .M^- Over this stove is placed an 

 iron tray and the bamboo frame for holding the trays is built to cover 

 the entire outfit. Seven or eight trays with lychee are then placed 

 over the stove, one above the other, and about three or four inches 

 apart. A bamboo cover is placed over the top of the stove. The 

 trays are constantly shifted so that no one tray is next to the fire or 

 occupies the same position for any great length of time. The bottom 

 tray must b? at a distance of at least one and one-half feet from lh< 

 fire. If the heat is too intense the Ivchee will turn black. 



The following table indicates the yield of dried lychee secured 

 from the fresh as given by the people of Lokang 



No mi ts'z (No mai t'sz 

 San yueh hung (Sam ut 

 Shan chih i Shan dii 

 Huai chih (Wai chi 



Fresh 



1 00 catties 24-26 catties 



100 ,, /K) catties 



UK) ,, M) ,, 



100 ,, .SO ,', 



The villagers of Lokang ''.JK0Q. 1 sell their dried fruit to jobbers 

 or exporters who in turn pack it in neat packages or sell it by the 

 catty In Canton the average price for the No mi ts'z (ff&ifc) 

 variety, other than in exceptional years, is from 60-80 cents Canton 

 currency per catty. In the United States these same Ivchee appear 

 neatly packed in pasteboard boxes and bring in the Chinese restaurants 

 from $1.75 to $2. 00 United States currency per pound. These modern 

 containers in which the lychee is presented to the foreign trade, 

 gaudily printed in no less than twelve colors with birds, beasts, insects, 

 fruits, flowers and women, convinces one that the Chinese are learn- 

 ing modern methods of presenting their products in an attractive 

 s'yle. Across the face of the container of one company trrere is a 

 Chinese gateway at the top of which are the American and Chinese 

 flags partly hid by a scroll, upon which are the Chinese characters 

 advertising the product contained therein. 



