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Farm and Garden.

OBIGINAL ARTICLES. ? COLD STORAGE ON THE FARM. 9XKHE problem of cold storage may be jfjftfb discussed from, some low standQrs>» points, bat above all the moat important seems to be the commercial prodacer who giowß and sells perishable commodities,, each as frnit, rather than the warehouseman who operates cold storage warehouses as buEiaesß enterprises. The growth is subject to many vicissitudes in maturing his crops of fruits, and is entitled to the largest amoußt of profit obtainable. Therefore this matter should engage the attention of farmers particularly, orcharduts who know from experience that the surplus of perishable produce, must usually be given away. Present conditions are snch that when one farmer has a supply of fruits and vegetables for the market nearly every other farmer and orchardist has a similar supply at tbat particular time, or, as is frequently the case, preparation is made for forwarding supplies to market, and then a sudden decrease in the temperature takes place, with no demand whatever, or very limited at greatly reduced prices, so low that the returns may not be sufficient to pay for cartage, let alone the cost of production. But when a cold storage room is available, perishable products may often be held until the congested market has been relieved and good prices can be realised. With properly constructed cold storage buildings the season for different fruits and similar perishable products oan be greatly extended and profitable prices obtained. Also not only it supplies him with the means of holding his usual products, but it affords an opportunity to crowd the production of the farm up to its limit. Also it may be noted that if cold storage became general the markets would not be glutted and better prices would be insured. Now a cold storage building that would be acceptable to the orchardist or farmer must be cheap and efficient, and great care exercised in the construction and insulation in every part of the building. Again it has been demonstrated that since the earth is usually hotter at night than is the atmosphere, and cools cff much more slowly, it is not economy to construct a storage below ground; also as there is not a aa'aral Bupply of ice available in this colon j, it would not be nectssary to devote a Urge space for storing future supplies of ice, but that artificial ice would be obte'.aed from time to time. Therefore almost any cheap building will answer the purpose of an ice house, provided sawdust is obtainable. A layer of sawdust, eighteen inches to two feet thick, between the walls of the building and the ice will give sufficient protection in most climates. Artificial ice may now be bought in most localities very cheaply, and will usually be but a small item. The amount of ice for refrigeration will depend a good deal on the care exercised in the construction of the building and upon the degree of outside temperature, as well as upon the amounts and frequency with which goods are placed in the storage room, The specification and materials used in the construction of a building would occupy considerable Bpace to relate fully, therefore we are forced to curtail details. The sills may be framed of two by six on edge, blocked apart by two by two's; fill the inolosure with cinders, well tampsd, to within a few inches of the top of sills, lay two by four sleepers upon the cinders lengthway of the building/equally spaced and level, and fill in additional cinders to the top of the same, well tamped and rolled. Dampen the cinders and fill to the top of the sills with concrete; when the concrete has set build up the retaining boards; a gutter should be constructed in the floor of the cold room, and the thickness of the concrete under it should be increased to five inches. When completed the internal space is cooled by means of the ice being placed therein in an elevated position, as the air cools it sinks to the ground, being heavier than warm air It wodld be a good thing for the orchardists to combine aid have a cold storage house or houses in their retpactive localities, so that better prices for their produce might be insured. •

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AHCOG19040407.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
716

Farm and Garden. Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 2

Farm and Garden. Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 2

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