Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-07-12
WHOLE NUMBER 1852.
THE SEASONS CANNING.
Valuable SuggesiiOns for American
HOusekeepers.

Housekeepers.
There are few things the average
housewife takes more pleasure in than
her display OF canned fruits and jellies,
and so simple is the process of making
that there is no excuse for failure.
The three principal methods OF
preserving fruit is by conserving it, the
proportions being pound of sugar to
pound of fruit; canning, one-quarter
or one-half pound of sugar to pound,
and jellies, which are pound OF sugar
to a pint of juice. But the last is
really the only fixed rule, as different
fruit often needs different proportions
from those given to obtain the best re-
suits.
1t is of first importance to have
everything of the best quality. for poor
fruit will not keep, and cheap sugar
gives cloudy results. Granulated or
loaf sugar Cthe former use in pre-
ference, though some think the more
satisfaction) and sound, not to ripe
fruit, are essentials.
Then the cans must be looked to,
especially the caps and rubbers. If
there is the slightest chance that the
latter are not in perfect order, il is
better to buy new ones and not risk
the results. The preserving kettle
should be of granite ware or porcelain +;
the old fashioned brass kettle is 60
liable to poison the ingredients. In
case it is used it should be secured
thoroughly with salt and vinegar.
When the fruit is ready to put on
the stove, the cans and jelly tumblers,
whichever are to be used, should also
be put on in a vessel OF boiling water,
with a cloth in the bottom to prevent
breaking. Old.fashioned housewives
always take the wash boiler and boil
the cans in it, but large dish pan
will answer. If the cans OF glasses are
not boiled, there is danger of breaking
when the hot fruit is put in. Many
content themselves with slipping
silver fork in each can, but it is much
less trouble to boil them all at once.
Berries are always looked on as the
best jelly fruit, though they can be
canned or turned into jam, which is
always relished by children. Currants,
raspberries, both red and black, black
berries and gooseberries all come in
the summer months, and make fine
preserves, either singly or in combina-
tion..
All jelly takes the same proportion,
pound for pound, or pound to a pint
of juice. The modus operandi in all
cases are alike. The fruit, which
should not be too ripe, is put in the
kettle with little water to prevent
burning at the bottom. When they
have cooked to pieces, strain through
a jelly bag. Some always use flannel
in which case it is better to let the
fruit strain during the night, for it
takes q very long time to drop through.
l use two thicknesses of cheeseclotb
and find it very satisfactory, and many
use a metal strainer that is on the
market. When the bags are used, they
must be hung by the stove.
The juice is measured and the sugar
added. When it begins to boil, it
should be skinned carefully, never
allowing the scum to 60 under the
surface, or the jelly will not be clear.
Twenty minutes boiling should be
sufficient. Some test it by beating q
little cool in a saucer, when it will
thicken if cooked enough. A simple
method is to take up a spoonful and
let it run off slowly. If the last drops
hang on the end like a little ball, it is
done.
The tumblers should then he placed
in the sun to thicken the top little.
When perfectly cool, the next day is
soon enough, tie up. Some put
branded paper over the top. others
melted paraffine. use buttered paper
cut over the top and label and keep in
. cool, dry place.
Raspberries and currants combined
makes a delicious jelly, using five
boxes OF the former to one OF the latter.
Tho canning is the same as with other
fruits.
Jam is made in the proportion of
pound for pound. Raspberry jam is
the better with pint of currant Juice
added to three pounds of fruit. Cook
until it jellies on q cold plate, then
put up in jars and cover the same as
Jelly. Our grandmothers always used
the high stone jars for this purpose,
but smaller ones are better if the
family does not include too many
children. Strawberries and goose
berries should be picked before too
ripe. Blackberries are very fine,
though the large seeds are an objection
to many.
Another way to prepare blackberries
so that they are very useful is to bottle
the juice. 1t is an excellent medicine
in cases OF diarrhoea, dysentery, ETC.,
which SO often occur with children.
Thickened with flour, it is still better.
Green grapes make deliciou. tart
jelly. Berries are added to color
preferably raspberries, one box to about
a half peck of grapes. Look them
over carefully and cvver with little
water. When boiled till soft and broken
strain through colander and again
through a cheesecloth bag, so that
none of the fine pulp can possibly
creep through. Add the berries and
strain again, then add the sugar and
boil till it jellies.
MAYOR Belt, the Populist Mayor OF
Spokane, has decided not to sign the
contract for the sale of the city's new
10