94 Fruitgrowing under Irrigation 



time of immersion should just be sufficient to cover 

 the fruit with lye, after which the bucket should be 

 quickly withdrawn. 



Spreading. After being dipped the fruit is spread 

 in a single layer upon the rack or drying trays. As 

 much sun as possible is allowed to reach the fruit; 

 so if spread upon trays these are placed in a single 

 layer upon the drying green, or if spread upon a 

 rack this is kept uncovered during fine weather. 



The time of drying will vary according to the 

 weather, which if hot will 'generally dry the fruit 

 in a week or ten days' time on a rack, or a little less 

 if upon wooden trays. When dry, clean hessian is 

 placed underneath the rack, the fruit is rubbed off 

 and falls upon the hessian, and is from there placed 

 into sweat boxes. If dried upon wooden trays the 

 fruit is rubbed off into the sweat boxes direct. 



THE GORDO. 



For drying purposes the gordo is treated in a 

 somewhat similar manner to the sultana, the chief 

 difference being in the strength of the dip, which, 

 on account of the thick skin of the fruit, should 

 consist of about 1 Ib. of soda to 10 gallons of water. 

 In drying, wooden trays are usually preferred, as 

 the rack-drying of gordos, with the fruit being more 

 or less in partial shade, is a rather slow process for 

 such a large fruit as the gordo. 



