•170 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



aud even iu this, I believe, little or no success has been attained 

 in preserving the more delicate fruits, whose lives, so to speak, are 

 naturally brief and confined to the season of their maturity. Had 

 there been any success in their preservation, it could not have 

 extended beyond the preserving room, for as soon as exposed to a 

 higher temperature the loss by decay or decomposition being so 

 rapid, all profit became impaired. This method failing, because 

 in tbe matters of economy and convenience impracticable, it fol- 

 lows that to be successful other means must be used. The end to 

 be accomplished necessarily required chemical science, combined 

 •with mechanical application. Chemical, in order to expel those 

 elements or properties, producing or assisting fermentation or 

 decomposition. Mechanical, that when these elements are expelled 

 to protect from further contact and union. In furtherance of this 

 object it was found that heating or cooking accomplished the first, 

 and the use of a jar or can the second. The fruit jar or can is 

 therefore a necessary article of domestic economy, and these have 

 been produced iu every conceiveable construction and of almost 

 every kind of material — all having some merit — many good in the 

 hands of experts, but most being deficient in the general require- 

 ments for domestic use — in their ease and convenience of opera- 

 tion, and in their general excellence as perfect fruit preservers. 

 The tin can, with soldered joint, has, perhaps, been the most suc- 

 cessful, and perhaps more extensively used than any other, on 

 account of the durability of the material and its adaptation to trans- 

 portation. For domestic use, however, it is very objectionable, 

 because it requires the aid of a tinman to solder them up, and the 

 contents cannot be seen to know whether they are good or not ; 

 and again, tin imparts a flavor to the fruit, which to some tastes 

 is objectionable if not offensive. Glass jars are preferable in this 

 respect, but should be free from all metalic or other substance 

 that would either impair the fruit or endanger the safety of the 

 jar. The jar that is free from these objections, and in all other 

 respects convenient for use, should be selected. A glass jar to be 

 convenient, as well as secure, should have every requirement within 

 itself aud be properly made of good material and workmanship. 

 The requirements necessary for a convenient and efficient fruit jar, 

 are : 1st — A jar and cover wholly glass and capable of secure seal- 

 ino-, by atmospheric pressure. 2d — The cover should be secured 

 by some fastening to provide against any undue action of the con- 

 tents from improper preparation and cooking, and still provide for 



