Norwich bulletin., 1918-05-25
PRESERVING, CANNING AND
 JELLY MAKING.

Dear Social Corner Sisters: In pre- serving, canning and jelly making iron | or tin utensils should never be used. l The fruit attacks these metals and so give a bad color and metallic taste to the products.
 The preserving kettles should Joe porcelain, lined, enameled, or of a metal that will not form troublesome chemical combinations with fruit jellies. The kettles should be broad rather than deep, as the fruit should not be cooked in deep layers. Near ,Iy all the necessary utensils may, be found in some ware not subject to chemical action.
 A list of the most essential articles follows: Two preserving kettles, one colander, one fine strainer, one skim mer, one ladle, one large -mouthed funnel, knives for pairing fruit s(plated if possible), wooden or willow rack to put in bottom of boiler, one wire fry ing basket, one wire sieve. four long, handled wooden spoons, one, wooden masher, a few large pans, hat-bottom- ed clothes boiler, iron tripod or ring. squares of cheesecleth.
 In addition, it would be we'll to have a flannel straining bag. a frame on which to hang the bag, a syrup gauge and a glass cylinder. fruit pricker, and plenty of clean towels.
 The regular kitchen pans will answer for holding and washing the fruit. Mixing bowls and stone crooks can be used for holding the fruit juice. When fruit is to be plunged into boiling water for few minutes before pairing. the ordinary stewpans may be em- ployed for this purpose.
 The wooden rack on which the bot ties rest in the wash boiler is made in this manner: Have two strips of wood measuring one inch high, one inch wide and two inches shorter than the 1 length of the boiler. On these pieces of wood tack thin strips of wood that l are one and half inches shorter than the width of the boiler. These cross strips should be about one inch wide, and there should be an inch between 1 two strips. This rack will support the jars and will admit the free circula- | tion of boiling water about them. Young willow branches, woven into a mat, also makes a good bed for bottles and jars.
 The wire basket is saver of time and strength. The fruit to be peeled | is put into the basket, which is low cred into a deep kettle partially filled with boiling water. After few min | utes the basket is lifted from the | | into cold water, and the fruit is ready to have the skin drawn off.
 A fruit pricker is easily made and saves time. Cut a piece half an inch deep from a broad cork; press through this dozen or more coarse alarming needles; tack the cork on a piece of board. Strike the fruit on the bed ot needles and you have a dozen holes al once. When the. work is finished, re- move the cork from the board, wash and dry thoroughly A little oil on the needles will prevent rusting. With needles of the size suggested there is little danger of the points breaking but it is worth remembering that the use of pricking machines was aban- doned in curing prunes on a commer- cial scale in California because the steel needles broke and remained in the fruit.
 To make a flannel straining bag take a square piece of flannel (27x27 inches is a good size), fold it to make a three -cornered bag, stitch one of the sides, cut the top square across, bind the opening with strong broad tape | stitch on this binding four tapes with which to tie the bag to the frame. Be- fore using it should be washed and boiled in clear water.