76 
THE FLO III ST AND POMOLOGIST. 
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the construction of a fruit-room upon his principle. This I have found, 
during the last winter and the present summer, to operate in accordance 
with his statement, as illustrated by Professor Locke, in his “ Monograph 
upon the Preservation of Organic Substances.” By his plan, the temper¬ 
ature and moisture of the fruit-room, and consequently the ripening of the 
fruit, may be perfectly controlled. One gentleman informs me that he kept 
Strawberries in a fruit-room constructed on this plan from June 1st to the 20th, 
in perfect condition for the table ; and he entertains no doubt of its complete 
success in the preservation of Apples and Pears indefinitely. Mr. Schooley 
writes me that, in the month of June, he received several barrels of Bellflower 
Apples, which had been kept for eight months, that were sold in that market 
at two dollars and twenty-five cents per bushel. The remainder out of eight 
hundred bushels was sold at home 
at three dollars per bushel. These 
Apples were purchased at random 
from the strolling waggons passing 
through the streets of Dayton, and 
were more or less bruised by care¬ 
less picking and transportation. My 
own experience corresponds with 
these statements. 
The construction of these rooms 
is simple. All that is required are 
walls made of non-conducting ma¬ 
terials, with an apartment for the ice 
above the fruit-room, and with Mr. 
Schooley’s descending flues for the 
cold air, so as to preserve an equable 
temperature and moisture, and to hold 
the ripening process in suspense. The 
air, by passing over the ice, is de¬ 
prived of its moisture, and, being cold, 
and specifically heavier than the sur¬ 
rounding atmosphere, falls through 
his descending flues, and, by a ven¬ 
tilator, escapes on one side of the 
room, thus creating a temperature 
not only cool, but dry. This prin¬ 
ciple, I am informed by a distin¬ 
guished member of the medical fa¬ 
culty, may be applied to the con¬ 
struction of hospitals with great ad¬ 
vantage, so that the air may be kept 
at a uniform temperature and degree 
of humidity. For a more particular account of this process I refer you to 
Professor Locke’s “ Monograph,” and to the inventor’s letter, herewith sub¬ 
mitted. 
In these remarks our object has been to provide against the maturing of 
fruits until the season when they are wanted for use. Care should, however, 
be exercised, especially with the Pear, and more delicate fruits, not to reduce 
the temperature much below 40° of Fahrenheit, lest the vital principle of the 
fruit be destroyed, and the flavour lost. 
/ 
Fig. 3. 
Horizontal sectional view of ground-plan of the 
structure. 
A, Fruit-room. 
B B. Ice-house. 
C, Vestibule or protection-porch, so as to keep 
the outside atmosphere from penetrating into A. 
f, Outside door of the same, well insulated ; e, in¬ 
side door and entrance to fruit-roora, well insu¬ 
lated ; a, a , six openings for the admission of cold 
dry air from ice—each opening 1 foot square, with 
slides over the mouth, so as to open and close at 
will; g, partition, well insulated. 
This house can he built either with brick or wood 
— the latter the best. The fruit and ice-houses can 
be constructed within another building. 
N.B.—Particular care should be taken in all cases 
to have the bottoms of these houses thoroughly 
drained, and well insulated from the natural heat 
of the eaith. This is absolutely necessary, as heat 
affects the earth to the depth of 40 feet or more. 
