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 frances (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 franes 
($2.31.6) in February and March, and 14 franes ($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 suecessful 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. 
