622 Preparation of Fruit Pulp in France, [jan., 



scale. The utensils required include a vertical boiler for 

 generating steam ; two pans, holding about 6\ gallons each,, 

 well made of stout copper, with spouts to pour out the contents 

 and levers for tilting ; and a metal tank for sterilising. Both 

 the pans and the tank must be constructed so that they can 

 be heated with steam from the boiler. The cost of an instal- 

 lation for making about 60 cwt. of pulp a day, including fixing 

 is estimated to cost in France from £120 to ,£160. 



The method of preparation is as follows : — The currants are 

 freed from their stalks by women, at rates varying according to 

 their skill of from no to 240 lb. a day each, so that a factory 

 dealing with 60 to 80 cwt. daily would require probably fifty 

 women or children for this work during the season. After the 

 removal of the stalks, the fruit is put into the copper pans, 

 about 17 lb. at a time, with rather less than a pint of cold 

 water ; steam is introduced into the false bottom of the pan and 

 the fruit heated to boiling point, it is stirred with a wooden 

 spoon, and after boiling for one minute the steam is shut off, the 

 fruit emptied into receptacles and immediately put into tins and 

 carefully soldered up. These tins weigh when filled, and 

 including the box, about 1 1 lb. They are then placed for twenty 

 minutes in a tank of water which is heated by steam to boiling 

 point. During this time it can be seen if any of the tins leak, 

 in which case they are taken out and re-soldered, after the air 

 has been allowed to escape. The tins are packed in wooden 

 cases containing ten each, i.e. about 1 cwt. gross to the case. 

 Only about 88 lb. of fruit are required for 1 cwt. of pulp gross, 

 the difference being represented by the weight of the tins and 

 the added water. 



The cost of preparing and exporting the pulp to London is 

 estimated by M. Vercier to be about 8s. iod. per cwt. case of 

 ten tins, made up as follows, exclusive of the cost of the fruit : — 



s. d. 



io tin boxes... 

 Soldering 



Removing stalks (88 lb.) 



Cost of preparation, coal, &c. ... 



Case for Packing ... 



Sundries and carriage 



Carriage : Dijon to London 



Interest on capital, depreciation, &c. 



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