OCR Text |
Show DATE INDUSTKl IN CALIFORNIA New Method of Ripening Fruit Accidentally Discovered Discov-ered by Date Expert. Washington, Nov 28 A new and Important addition to the fruit crops of California and neighboring States is promised bj the department of aerl culture, which is experimenting with a simple method of ripening dates Hitherto lack of an economical ineth od of ripening the fruit has prevented extensive planting and cultivation of date palms. The new method was accidentally discovered b Walter T Swingle, the date expert of the department. It was found that a slow ripening process was necessary to obtain the best results Further experiments demonstrated that an air tight container In which the fruit could be kept for 10 days at about an even temper gave the desired flavor to the fruit Degler Noor date palms were Intro duced Into Arizona in 1900. but it was found that because of the dry atmosphere atmos-phere the fruit would not ripen on the trees, although there was more than the requisite amount of heat. It is said by department of agriculture of-ti of-ti lals that the new method of ripening ripen-ing will make possible the extensive I planting of date palms In the south west. |