566 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



German School of Horticulture at Geisenheim before referred to. For 

 larger consumers the apparatus is self-contained, and is capable of being 

 shifted from one portion of a holding to another, or from one farm to 

 another. The apparatus consists of a stove, in which the heat can be 

 regulated in the ordinary way. Above this is placed a metal rack con- 

 taining thirteen trays similar to those mentioned above, and, if desired, 

 inner trays can be inserted in these, so as to enable the machine to take 

 nearly double the quantity of the prepared fruit. By a simple ratchet 

 arrangement, operated by the lever handle shown at the side of the 

 machine, the trays can be raised from the bottom, or, if it be desired to 

 inspect the contents and progress of any tray, those above it can be raised 

 in the same manner. A spare tray having been filled with the fruit, it is 



Fig. 155. — The " Invicta " Evaporator. 



inserted above the others in the case of Plums and other soft fruits, or, in 

 the case of Apples and Pears, it is inserted below the others. In either 

 case the tray at the bottom or top respectively should be removed, and the 

 contents, if dried sufficiently, should be replaced with fresh fruit. By 

 these means the one machine can be kept in constant use. The evapora- 

 tion in this form of machine also is secured by the heated air passing 

 through the trays, and carrying with it the moisture of the fruit. These 

 larger machines with twelve trays will take from 100 to 180 lb. of fruit, 

 or, if the inner trays be inserted, they will take from 270 to 280 lb. 



For household use another machine on very similar lines has been 

 invented, which is placed over the oven in the kitchen range, and thus 

 utilises the waste heat and requires no additional expense of fuel. The 



