430 DOMESTIC KCOXOMY. [Chap. IV. 



turnips, or any strong-smelling substances are stored, for tliey ahsorh the un- 

 ])leasiuit odor. If packed in straw or chaff that becomes damp and musty, 

 they M-ill spoil. 



483. Grapes — How to Keep Them. — ^Tliore arc three easy ways that will 

 serve the j)urpose in some degree — that is, it will preserve tlicni some weeks 

 into the winter in a tolerahle state of freshness. The first is to hang up the 

 bunches separately by the stems in a dry room, barely warm enough to pre- 

 serve fruit from freezing. The next is to pack the bunches, each separately, 

 in absolutely dry sawdust, of some sweet wood, in layers, in a box or cask. 

 The other is to pack the bunches separately between layers of clean cotton 

 fiber or batting. In each case the fruit should be kept in a dry, cool room, 

 and, when packed in cotton, the room may be so cold that it would freeze 

 water, yet will not injure the grapes. Care must be taken that the fruit is 

 dry and clean, and that there are no decayed, mashed, or imperfect grapes 

 on the bunches. 



Another direction says : 



" In gathering grapes for keeping fresh, thc}^ should be allowed to hang 

 on the vines until fully ripe, and then gathered with care to avoid bruising. 

 The fairest bunches should be chosen to put away, and with a pair of small 

 scissors all defective and bruised berries should be cut ofi'. They should 

 then be placed in boxes well ventilated, and remain for a few days, when 

 they should be packed in boxes holding six or eight pounds each. It is not 

 important that the box be tight ; it is better that it should not be. These 

 should be put in the coolest place in the house, where the air is dry. On 

 the approach of freezing weather they may be removed to upper shelves sus- 

 pended in the cellar, or in any dry room where the temperature is as near 

 the freezing-point as possible. 



" While grapes may be grown in such profusion and with so little labor, 

 it is a little remarkable that a supply for every household in the country is 

 not secured, not only in the regular season of them, but to last until spring. 

 There is no trouble in keeping grapes through the winter as fresh as when 

 they are first gathered." 



4S4. Preserving Fruit in Air-Tight fans and EottJes.— The modus operandi 

 of putting up fruit so as to preserve it in a fresh state without cooking, dry- 

 ing, or packing in sugar is not yet fully understood by all fiirmers' families, 

 though largely manufactured for sale by many persons in cities ; and many 

 contrivances have been invented for sealing up cans, some of which are 

 very convenient ; but the same thing can be accomplished with bottles 

 corked and sealed according to these directions. 



It is a business that can not so well be done in families as in large manu- 

 factories, where everything is arranged for convenience ; but still, with a 

 little experience and careful attention, every family can save enough of the 

 various fruits of the season to furnish their tables with a great delicacy 

 during that portion of the year when they can get nothing of the kind. 

 The whole secret consists in expelling the air from bottles or cans by heat. 



