156 
WISCONSIN HORTICULTURE 
Equipment for Drying Fruits and 
Vegetables. 
Our grandmothers, who lived be- 
fore germs were invented, dried ap- 
ples in the open air, sometimes with 
a covering of mosquito netting but 
oftener without. Aside from the 
matter of dust and germs this is not 
a good way. Apples as well as 
other fruits and vegetables, should 
be more quickly and thoroughly 
dried than is possible when exposed 
only to sunshine a few hours a day. 
No elaborate or expensive equip- 
ment is necessary. 
A Box Dryer 
A box of rough lumber 3 by 3 ft. 
and 6 ft. high with a small stove in 
in the bottom and lath trays with 
wire bottoms provides a cheap and 
effective dryer. There must be suf- 
ficient ventilation to carry off the 
moisture or the fruits will be steam- 
ed instead of dried. 
Oat Sprouter 
An oat sprouter such as used by 
poultry raisers for sprouting oats 
for green feed in winter may, ac- 
cording to Miss Harper, be used in 
drying vegetables. The sprouter 
consists of a cabinet with 5 trays, 
a water pan and a lamp beneath 
the pan. By not filling the pan Ave 
have a dryer instead of a sprouter. 
Ventilation is provided by slightly 
raising the top of the cabinet. 
The Oven Dryer 
A detachable 0 A T en such as used 
on gas and gasoline sto\ T es will 
serve as a dryer if the door is left 
slightly ajar. An oven that has 
been discarded on account of cracks 
or other defects is especially adapt- 
ed to drying as a hole may be made 
in the top to serve as a ventilatoV. 
The Hotbed Dryer 
The hotbed or cold frame can be 
converted into an excellent dryer 
by simply putting in a board floor. 
Here Ave have a most excellent heat 
trap in Avhich fruit and vegetables 
can be dried in a sanitary manner, 
it will work, try it. 
No doubt many of our members 
can suggest other and better plans. 
Send along your ideas, the July 
number Avill not be too late. 
The excellent articles on home 
canning by Miss Harper, reprinted 
from our annual reports of 1809- 
1910 should be read carefully by 
every one interested in canning 
fruits and vegetables : that means 
everybody this year. 
Alson Duane Brown. 
Mr. A. D. BroAvn died Monday, 
April 23rd, at his home in the city 
ALSON DUANE BROAA'N. 
of Baraboo after a critical illness 
of ten days. 
Mr. Brown moved from his fruit 
farm in the Skillet Creek neighbor- 
hood about three years ago because 
of failing health. Indigestion 
which developed into a cancer Avas 
June, 1917 
the direct cause of his death. He 
Avas born in Oneida Co., NeAv York, 
in 1847 and came to Wisconsin Avith 
his parents at the age of 19 and in 
1867 Avas married to Miss Matilda 
Cook. They lived in Minnesota 
ten years and in the toAvn of Del- 
lona, Sauk Co., Wis., six years. 
Mr. BroAvn ahvays had a liking for 
fruit growing and about thirty 
years ago purchased the place on 
which he established his fruit farm 
becaiise he judged the location to 
be exceptionally Avell adapted to 
apple groAving. The orchard Avhich 
has grown up under his care proves 
his good judgment. 
Mr. BroAvn Avas an earnest seeker 
of knowledge and an enthusiastic 
horticulturist. Because of deaf- 
ness he could not take part in the 
discussions at our Winter Meetings 
but he Avas a faithful exhibitor 
there and also at the state fair and 
county fair. Mr. BroAvn has been 
very earnest in bringing to the 
knowledge of the public the merits 
of the variety of apple named Gem 
City. He has made an interesting 
collection of seedling apples, some 
of which are quite promising. Mr. 
Brown Avas the fiist within our 
knoAvledge in the state to build a 
fruit caA T e or cellar. This Avas a 
number of years ago and others 
have observed the A’alue of this 
plan for keeping apples. 
He leaves a Avife and tAvo child 
ren, Wayne E. BroAvn of Lone Rock 
and Mrs. L. B. Irish who with her 
husband now owns the fruit farm 
which was established by Mr. 
BroAvn. To those Avho are not hor 
ticulturally inclined Mr. BroAvn 
was best knoAvn as an earnest Chris- 
tian and until his hearing became 
impaired he Avas an active worker 
in the Methodist Church. 
By William Toole, Sr. 
