APPENDIX. 109 



be gathered dry, and in as perfect a condition as possible. 

 In this condition, put away in a dry cupboard, it will keep 

 well a year, and it will be found to be as near as possible to 

 the natural uncloyed flavour of the ripe fruit. It can be 

 used with porridge or plain cold cereal " moulds " made 

 like blanc-mange, or either oatmeal, maize, pearl barley, or 

 crushed wheat. Taken with a little plain whole- meal 

 biscuit or bread, such wholesome fare would form enjoyable 

 breakfast or tea meals the whole year round. Finger-rolls, 

 or any form of unfermented bread, with these " preserves," 

 are perhaps the best approach to the ideal diet that can be 

 aimed at for family practice during winter. Occasionally 

 well-boiled plain rice or macaroni will be found to go 

 admirably with such fruit. 



Two ladies have forwarded the following recipes : 



" To ' can ' fruit without sugar, put it in a stew-pan with 

 sufficient water to keep it from burning, and bring it to a 

 boil ; have ready screw- topped bottles, which have been put 

 into and filled with warm water which has been brought to 

 the boil in a boiler ; empty out the water, and immediately 

 pour in the boiling fruit, fill to the brim, and screw down. 

 The bottles must be looked at the next day, and if a bubble 

 is seen that bottle must be done over again, as of course 

 the object is to exclude the air. The boiler in which the 

 bottles are heated must be lined with flannel, or something 

 to prevent them from breaking." 



These screw-topped bottles can be obtained through any 

 glass shop. They are not needed in the following methods : 



Another plan : " (1) Get some good earthenware or glass 

 jars, perfectly sweet, and free from cracks. (2) Fill the 

 jars with sound, ripe fruit. Place them in a gentle oven, 

 tops covered with plates or paper, to keep in steam and 

 prevent burning. No sugar to be added until needed for use. 

 (3) Have ready a supply of boiling water. When the fruit 

 is heated through, but not burst, it will have sunk from two 



