

PRESERVING APPARATUS. 83 



PRESERVING APPARATUS. 



The invention of another, here described, is an apparatus 

 for preserving fruits, vegetables, and other perishable articles 

 from decay, by which they may be transmitted from one 

 country to another. It consists of a box or barrel of any 

 shape desired, with a loose or movable lid ; the vessel may be 

 ever so rough or unfinished, but must be strong to prevent col- 

 lapsing. It is covered with a case of gum-elastic leather in two 

 parts, and a band or belt of gum-elastic compound is drawn over 

 the opening or seam, between the two parts of the covering. 

 When this article with its contents are packed, the air is 

 pumped out, and the tube being stopped, the article becomes air- 

 tight. This apparatus has been tried experimentally for ship- 

 ments to the West Indies, and found to answer. 



The preserving of articles by hermetical sealing has, for many 

 years, been practised to some extent, with tin cases, but the ex- 

 pense of preserving fruits, &c., by this method, would be too 

 great for transportation. It may be expected that by some 

 such method as here proposed, the fruits of different climes 

 may be transmitted from one part of the globe to the other, 

 including such as, from their perishable nature, could not other- 

 wise be kept long enough for this purpose. See plate , fig. 



