NO MORE WASTE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5133, 1 June 1927, Page 1

NO MORE WASTE.

USE FOR SURPLUS FRUIT. It is generally pretty well-known that in the wake of the fruit-grow-ing industry there is. a lot of waste each season, both from the fruit in the orchards and fruit in cool stroe there.

This wastage goes on the whole world over, and for many years brains have been puzzling out what might be done with the fruit, much of which goes to waste. In many cases fruitgrowers are glad to have their friends come along and help themselves to good fruit which has been brought to earth in a condition unfit for marketing. Much of this fruit is sepoped up and fed to the pigs and much of it is made into pulp and used for various purposes. To make a really marketable proposition out of the- fruitwastage, however, is a difficult problem which so far has npt been satisfactorily solved. A SOLUTION FOUND. At least it has not yet been made public that a satisfactory solution to the problem has been found, but it is now reported that Messrs. E. G. Schmoll, of Her.etaunga Street, Hastings, and C. L. Schmoll, of Nelson Crescent, Napier, have, after several years of experimental work, found the answer. A few weeks ago a “Telegraph” reporter was shown by Mr Schmoll, of Hastings, the results of his experiments. The demonstration given by Mr Schmoll really amounted to a display of what might lie done with the byproducts of fruit. On a tabic were heaped up several little stacks of what was once fruit of various kinds. In its original state it was put through a certain process, and the result is that from these fruits there has been made food for animals and poultry, rabbit poison, and dried fruit for human consumption. Different classes of animal food, mainly for stud stock, were displayed, and it was stated that one pound of this food, which retained all the nutriment of the- fruit in its original state, was equal to eight or nine pounds of mangolds. In the preparation of this nothing was wasted, and the same may be said of the food which was prepared for poultry. VALUABLE SYRUP. The dried fruits exhibit was exceptionally interesting. It was found to be more moist than the usual dried fruit, because its juice was retained, and Mr Schmoll exhibited a portion of the dried fruit which he had kept for eight months. It was still in practically the same condition as when it went through the process. Mr Schmoll assured the reporter that any of this treated fruit would keep good for an indefinite period. In the manufacture of all the foods the syrup is completely extracted from the fruit, but it is then put back after treatment, so that none- of the nourishment is lost. In certain cases, however, the juice is. not put back into the fruit, and then it is made into cider syrup and pure fruit juice, which would be very valuable for medicinal purposes. As far as the poultry food is concerned Mr Schmoll estimates that it could be put on the market at Id per pound, a much cheaper, price than any fowl food of the present day. THE PRICKLY PEAR. The experimental activities of the two brothers have not been confined solely to fruit and its by-products. The famous prickly, pear, which is so rampant in Australia, lias also received attention. From the leaves and fruit of this pest the inventors have made an excellent food for stock. Many acres in Australia literally run wild with this prickly pear, and so great a pest ha.s it become that the Australian Government lias offered 5000 acres to anyone who cannot destroy the prickly pear but remove it from the land and convert it into fodder for stock. The Messrs Schmoll claim that this is just what they ha.ve been able to do, and they have put in a claim for the 5000 acres.

Another claim of the inventors is that by their process the. fruit market will be more or less standardised. The fact that all the waste and poorer class fruit can lie used for the making of fodder, etc., means that only the best quality will be sent to tlie markets, and therefore a better standard of fruit will be procurable than at present, without any increase in price.