# Dried Apples explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A poem reflecting on the improved process of drying apples using an evaporator at Mt. Elgin, contrasting the old dusty, unsanitary method with the new clean and pleasant technique.

## Themes in this chapter

### Progress and Technology

The poem highlights the transition from an old, unsanitary method of drying apples to a clean, efficient evaporator, celebrating technological improvement.

## Key lines

> Dried apples once were full of dust, And you all know it is no joke. Saturate with tobacco smoke, And the hole where string did go through Was nest for animalcule, And collected the kitchen steam.

In the past, dried apples were dusty, smoky, and full of germs from the string hole and kitchen steam.

_Describes the old, unsanitary drying method._

> But process now is sweet and clean, Viewed with pleasure by spectator, Work of the evaporator.

Now the drying process is pleasant and hygienic, thanks to the evaporator.

_Highlights the improvement brought by the new technology._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/dried-apples
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters