Thinning, Gathering, Keeping, and Marketing. 123 



of wood on the bottom of the boiler, before setting the jars in, to 

 prevent their cracking by the heat below. When the water about 

 the jars has nearly reached boiling, they then may be filled with the 

 fruit by means of a dipper. This work is facilitated by providing a 

 wide tin funnel (Fig. 166), made on purpose to fit the mouth of the 

 jar, and it should have a handle a foot long, to prevent any danger 

 of burning or scalding the hand. When the jars are full, the con- 

 tents should be slightly shaken, to start up any air bubbles that may 

 remain, and the water allowed to boil slightly about them for a few 

 minutes. The covers should be then applied, and made air-tight, at 

 the same moment the jars are withdrawn from the water. Before 

 applying the cover, the jars should be so completely filled with fruit, 

 that not the least air or space may remain, but the whole be per- 

 feaiy solid. 



To save the hands from scalding, there should be a pair of forceps 

 (Fig. 167) made to fit the neck of each jar, to grasp it readily in lift- 

 ing it from the hot water. 



The juice of all small fruits furnishes sufficient syrup with the 



Fig. 166. Funnel for filling Fruit Jars, Fig. 167. Forceps for lifting Jars from 



with a rim set on below, to fit the out- hot water, 



side of the neck. 



sugar to fill all the interstices ; but some larger and drier sorts 

 require sometimes the addition of a portion of syrup made by boil- 

 ing a pound or two of sugar in a quart of water. 



Some persons, after having heated the jars, fill them while they 

 are standing on a table, and then replace them, and continue the 

 boiling for a few minutes, or until every air bubble has passed from 

 them, before sealing them tight. Either way will answer, if the 

 work is well done. 



Cement. The best is made of one part of tallow mixed with 

 about ten or twelve parts of rosin. An increase of the tallow softens 

 the cement. The most perfect India-rubber linings obviously need 

 no cement ; with corks it must be used freely, and is indispensable. 

 The best mode is the following, described in the American Agricul- 

 turist : 



