The Somerset reporter., 1890-06-19
FARM, GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
Preserve N aking as a Business.

My especial story Is for the young
woman who lives In the country and who
has an opportunity to get At berries, and
small fruits; perhaps lives on a farm
where they are raised. or may be, with
work and care. The woman | am going
to tell her of, lives on pretty little home
farm" OF a few acres just outside the
ousy city Of Pawtucket In Rhode Island,
and not far from Providence. She had
been book-keeper In one OF the Paw
tucket mills, At large salary, and had
and settled down ON the home
farm. Accustomed As she was to q busy
lie, and above all 70 being the mistress Of
a pocket book Of her own, she soon found
herself missing 1t, and wishing that she
had something to do. Like The woman
with the ''Saratogs chips, she found her
vocation quite by accident. Her mother
had been notable New England house
wife, whose cooking and, above all, whose
pickle and preserve making were famous
in the neighborhood. Her daughter had
,pbeyjtAd this neepl,ar .hiJjtH npd ~ss y.
proud Of her store closet as her mother
had been before her. 1t happened, one
autumn day, As she was making . special
kind Of pickle, which was liked BY all the
~ VIM hhu VIC kOOu loI suut W LhSLe
1t, one Of her neighbors came In to call
She began comment upon the pickles, BE-.
wailing her own ill-luck In making them,
and ended by saying how she did wish
that 1t was possible to obtain some. 1t
was at that instant the marey.making
idea came into Mrs. Thornton's head.
Il will make some for you," she said.
"You!" replied her friend.
NV ~ =
want occupation"
And 30 the thing was settled, and so
soon As others heard that SHE vas willing
70 undertake the work they came to her
with orders. and she found plenty of pick
ing to do. Then came rsqut s,s for cats.
ups. sauces and relishes and she filed
hose orders.
Her neighborhood success set her to
thinking seriously, snd during the winter
she laid her plans. She saw friends iu
Providence and took orders for jellies,
preserves, pickles and things OF q like
nature, and she made arrangements with
the Woman's Exchange to send her any
orders they might get, and also to take
what she might have to spare on sale at
their rooms. As soon a. the spring
opened she began her work. She looked
after her strawberry beds snd her rasp
berry and blackberry vines. She looked
TO see that her fruittrees were In copdi.
ton. She tended her cucumber vines and
her tomato plants. Her garden had come
TO mean something more than merely the
appendage to the family comfort; 1t was
to be the basis of supplies for the new
business.
All summer she worked; as the frul,
iripened she put 1t up" The straw
berries, most delicate of all. frnisa = abs
picked herself. hulllng as she picked, 81
that they need be handled but the once
and taking great caro- that they should
not be crushed. Currants she allowed
others to pick for her, and 30 with the
harder fruits that would not be harmed
by the handling. She used the creates
care In making her jellies and her pre-
serves, and the results were most salts
factory. From the time the first frui
ripened, until the last pickles were mad,
in the early autumn, she was CONSTANT,
employed. 1t proved to be a remuuers
tive employment. The second year he
business increased, and now she has al
she can do. She might enlarge 1t, bu
she docs not care to undertake to do an
more than she can do herself, a. she fear
that II any one undertook 1t with her til,
results would be less satisfactory tina
they are. Like a sensible woman, sh
concludes that enough 10 as good as more
and she makes sufficient money duriu
the busy months to keep her all the yea
through, and let her do what she likes |
the way of improvement Of her place, o
journeying about In her leisure season
and OF having many things In the way o
luxury that otherwise she would have I
go without. To be sure with her tn
work was not real necessity; but the r.
suit would have been the same IL It hs
been. She had, too, the advantage o
owning the place, but there are otht
women who have tho same advaptag,
There IL many . woman living In th
country who. although not the owner OF
farm, has garden spot which she migl
devote to tho growth Of small fruits, an
turn these into money by making til
preserves add 1ellies that will find read
market At good prices.
- Wide Awdke.