716 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Dec, 1918, 



purpose, may be used as a sterilizer, but the conditions under wbicb 

 housekeepers are situated at various times make one vessel more con- 

 venient than another, but it may be said that each has its merits; these, 

 however, will be more clearly understood if described or illustrated. 



Any of the understated vessels may to advantage be utilized for 

 house and family use for two good reasons — little expense, combined with 

 first class results. In the first place, one of the most important parts of 

 the installation — a sterilizing vat — though not made especially for the 

 purpose — is to be found in practically every kitchen or home in the 

 form of an ordinary washing copper, clothes boiler, kerosene tin cut 

 lengthwise, a large tin " billy," fish kettle, or any other such vessel 

 which is deep enough to permit the jars or other containers to be properly 

 covered. Of these, the washing copper, having the advantage of being 

 larger, is perhaps the most convenient, and the only appliance required 

 to convert it into a satisfactory sterilizing vat is a false wooden bottom 

 or shelf, a couple of inches less in diameter than the vessel, and made 



Suitable sterilizing vessels and false bottoms or shelves. 



either of several strips of wood or in one piece. It should te well per- 

 forated, and have two cleats about 3 inches in height. The sleats should 

 be nailed on the underside, making the shelf about 4 inches high. The 

 spaces or perforations will allow the steam to pass through and circulate 

 around the jars, as the processing is done by steam in the upper section 

 of the boiler. The object of this stand or shelf is to raise 

 the bottles slightly above the bottom of the vessel, and enable 

 the glass jars which rest on it being stood slightly apart, 

 so that during processing they may not come in contact with 

 each other, thereby preventing breakages. A lid or cover of some 

 description is required to prevent the steam escaping too freely; if a 

 very loose-fitting wooden lid is used, a wet grain bag placed over it would 

 be a great help, though, of course, a well made cover would not require 

 it. The stand should be placed in the copper, with sufficient water to 

 reach just below its surface, the containers, after being filled as 

 described, placed on the stand with their lids either loosely on or laid 

 beside them, the copper covered, the Avater brought rather slowly to 

 boiling point, and the fruit processed for the necessary length of time. 



