DRYIXG VEGETABLES AXD FRUITS FOR HOME USE. 



to the back, leaving the 3-inch space in front. The next tray is 

 placed even with the front, leaving a 3-inch space in the back. A 

 small nail or a little wooden knob may be fastened on the cleats to 

 act as a stop for the trays. The other trays alternate in the same way. 

 This permits the hot current of heated air to pass around and over 

 the trays as well as through the products to be dried. A ventilator 

 opening is left in the top of the drier through which the moist air 

 may pass away. This should, for this size drier, be 10 by 12 inches. 



The principle of construc- 

 tion is such that currents of 

 heated air pass over the 

 product as well as up 

 through it, gathering and 

 carrying along the moisture 

 with it. The movement of 

 the current of air induces a 

 more rapid and uniform 

 drying. The upper trays 

 can be shifted to the lower 

 part of the drier and the 

 lower trays to the upper 

 part as drying proceeds, so 

 as to dry the products uni- 

 formly. The thermometer 

 is placed on the lower tray. 



If drying is done in a 

 cookstove oven, leave the 

 oven door ajar. Note the „ 



J Fig. 2. — An inexpensive homemade cookstove drier. 



temperature of oven often. 



Trays for use in the oven can be made by using a convenient-sized 



piece of galvanized wire screen with the edges bent up 1 or 2 inches. 



A CHEAPER HOMEMADE DRIER. 



A very satisfactory drier can be made of lath (preferably cypress, 

 poplar, or other nonresinous wood), wire screens, and cotton canvas 

 or heavy unbleached muslin. (Fig. 2.) It can be used over a wood 

 stove, furnace, oil or gas stove and can be made in size to suit the par- 

 ticular source of heat used. It can be made to take apart and pack 

 flat, for agents' use in demonstrations, or it can be made rigid for 

 home use. 



A five-tray drier with bottom 21 by 11J inches can be made from 

 the following material : 



Uprights, 4 pieces of lath 1| by f inch, 23 inches long. 



Cleats or shelves, 10 pieces of lath 11 by f inch, 24 inches long. 



Side braces, 4 pieces of lath 1^ by | inch, 24 inches long. 



