DRYING THE FRUIT OUTSIDE 77 



and dried, thus proving a relief to the market and to 

 the patience of the grower and pickers. This method 

 of harvesting was invented and introduced by Jewett 

 Benedict, of Dundee, N. Y., and is extensively used 

 by the berry growers of that region. 



METHODS OF DRYING 



Drying Out of Doors. Various methods of drying 

 are employed, the simplest of which is to dry on boards 

 in the sun. This usually takes from three to five days, 

 and the picture shows the way in which it is ordinarily 

 done. Platforms or trays about twelve feet long and 



Fig. 14. Drying berries out of doors. 



three to four feet wide are made of matched boards. A 

 narrow strip is nailed around the edge of each tray to 

 prevent the berries from rolling off. The trays rest 

 upon long horses made of scantling, to hold them at a 

 convenient height from the ground. A little block is 

 tacked across each corner of the trays, so that at night 

 or in case of a shower they can be stacked up on top of 

 each other and covered with boards or canvas. This 

 is of necessity a slow way of drying, and the cost of 

 lumber for trays to handle a large crop would be an 



