36 
To Crystallise Fruits. 
The following method of crystallising 
fruit is given in the ‘Agricultural Journal’ 
of the Cape of Good Hope:— 
The means of preserving fresh fruits in 
a crystallised form is attained by extract- 
ing the juices from the fruits and re 
placing them with sugar syrup, which, 
upon hardening, preserves the fruit 1from 
decay, and at the same time retains their 
natural shape, and, 
flavour. 
to some extent, 
The process is as follows:— Fresh 
Fresh fruit, nearly ripe, whole, or cut in- 
to quarters, in the case of citrus and such 
large sorts, should be boiled until they 
are soft enough to be handled without 
breaking. In the case of citrus fruits, the 
rind should be lightly pared off, and the 
pulp removed, at least a couple of hours 
before boiling. The softer kinds, such as 
peach, plum, apricot, &c., would merely 
be steeped in boiling water for a very 
short time, care being taken that they 
are not immersed sufficiently long to be 
cocked, The exact time can only be 
determined by actual experience. After 
this, the water from the fruit should be 
allowed to drain off thoroughly, and when 
sufficiently dry, they should be placed in 
hot sugar syrup, and kept there for a fw 
days, so that the sugar may enter the fruit 
cells and displace what juice remains after 
The fruit 
in clean 
the boiling or scalding process. 
should then be lightly washed 
cold water, and packed 
sugar while wet, and allowed to remain 
there and dry off in a draught, until it is 
hard.enough to be packed away for trans- 
in dry white 
port. A common home recipe for pre” 
paring sugar syrup is:—1 lb. white sugar 
to 1 pint of water, adding the white of an 
ege to every 4 1b, of sugar; boil this mix- 
over a fast fire for twenty miuutes, and 
strain through a cloth while hot, when it 
is ready for use. 
The present season has been favorable 
for peaches. In dry years the fruit 
frequently fails to mature properly. 
‘Peach growers should make provision 
a storing water, so as to be able io 
“trigate tha trees when the 
moisture is deficient. Peete 
natural 
felts 
Interesting Orchard Notes. 
 Allland intended for planting should 
now be got in readiness for the autumn 
cultivating. 
All fruit that is being stored must be 
gone over frequently, so that any showing 
signs of decay may be promptly 
removed. 
Enable late peaches to ripen quickly 
by a judicious thinning of crowded 
shoots and such growth as is unduly 
screening the fruit. 
Apples and pears should not be allowed 
to ripen on the trees where they are at 
the mercy of every gale, but should be 
gathered when perfectly dry, and stored 
until dry. 
Cherries from Western Australia were 
sent to India for the first time last 
December, and landed in excellent con-- 
dition. This should prove the foundation 
of a profitable industry. 
The present export season for apples 
will be a phenomenal one as regards 
Victoria, for the output will be more 
than double that of last season. There 
is a sadly different tale to tell as regards 
he apple crop of this State. 
. The Western Australian orchards are 
producing considerably more fruit than 
can be used locally. This season the 
public could purchase fruit at prices 
hitherto unheard of inthe West. Peaches 
were sold at 2/ per case of 36lb. 
Autumn is the best time to apply lime 
to the soil, The early rain will carry 
the lime down, and incorporate it with 
the soil much better than when used in 
the spring. Soil that has become sour 
through excess of moisture, and imperfect 
drainage, requires liming at the rate of 
from 1 to 3 tons to the acre. 
The fruit fiy pest appears to have been 
overcome to a large extent in New South 
Wales. The Government entomologist 
(Mr. W. W. Froggatt) aud the district 
inspectors visited numerous orchards in 
the Hawkesbury, and other fruit-growing 
‘centres recently. On the whole’ of the 
‘trip not a single fruit fly maggot was 
seen. j 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
a a a ge nr 
March 1, 1909 
— 
There isa strong demand for Austra- 
lian grown oranges in the London and 
German markets during the mouths OF 
September and October Last season an 
experimental shipment from Adelaide 
realised from 16/ to 21/ per case. 
Owing to the low temperatures this 
summer the consumption of fruit is not 
nearly as large asusual. An experienced 
fruit salesman in the wholesale trade is 
opinion that the demand is about half of 
what it would be if the weather was 
warm. The public turn away from fruit 
when the weather is cold in much the 
same way as they do from iced drinks. 
Dr. M'Kenzie, of Geelong, is reported 
to have discovered traces of arsenate of 
lead on the peelings of some apples. It 
is not stated whether or not the quantity 
was suflicient to do any harm to the con- 
sumer. Fruit that has been sprayed 
with an arsenical mixture is sure to con- 
tain some trace of the poison. It has 
been computed that a person would 
require to eat not less than two cases of 
sprayed apples at one time before he 
would be affected. 
The way to a ai of this fellow = all IL his 
kind is to spray the leaves they feed on with, 
Swiit’s 
Arsenate of Lead 
GUARANTEED EFFECTUAL. 
Will Not Burn or Scorch the Foliage: 
Our Free Book on Insect Pests and Insecticides Is oF 
Broat practical value value. Send for It. 
HENRY W. PEABODY & CO.) 
9 Bridge Street, SYDNEY. —{ 
Local Agents—E..& W. Hackett. 
/ 
