THE EMIGRANT'S HAND-BOOK. 463 



if too thin, it will bear additional boiling; if too thick, it 

 may be lowered with more syrup of the usual standard. 

 The reason why the fruit is emptied out of the preserving 

 pan into an earthen pan, is, that the acid of the fruit acts 

 upon the copper of which the preserving pans are usually 

 made. From this example, the process of preserving 

 fruits by syrup will be easily comprehended. The first 

 object is, to soften the fruit, by blanching or boiling in 

 water, in order that the syrup, by which it is preserved, 

 may penetrate through its substance. In proportion as 

 the fruit is unripe or hard, it will require to be boiled 

 three or four times in the syrup ; when it is of a softer 

 texture, the syrup drained off and poured on the fruit in 

 its boiling state, will be sufficient, as it is important to 

 retain the shape and appearance of the fruit as perfect as 

 possible. 



Fruits preserved ly syrup without heat. Many fruits 

 when preserved by boiling, lose much of their peculiar 

 and delicate flavor, as for instance pine-apples ; and this 

 inconvenience may, in some instances, be remedied by 

 preserving them without heat. Cut the fruit in slices, 

 about one-fifth of an inch thick ; strew powdered loaf- 

 sugaV an eighth of an inch thick in the bottom of a jar, 

 and put the slices on it. Put more sugar on this, and 

 then another layer of the slices, and so on, till the jar 

 is full. Place the jar with the fruit up to the neck in 

 boiling water, and keep it there till the sugar is complete- 

 ly dissolved, which may take half an hour, removing the 

 scum as it rises. Lastly, tie a wet bladder over the mouth 

 of the jar, or cork and wax it. 



Dry confects, or fruits preserved ly boiling in syrup and 

 drying afterward. Any of the fruits that have been pre- 

 served in syrup may be converted into dry preserves, by 

 first draining them from the syrup, and them drying in a 

 stove or very moderate oven ; adding to them a quantity 



