PRESERVATION OF FRUIT. 383 



then placed in trays each holding either 10 or 12 cans and re- 

 moved to the " wiping table," where everything is cleared from 

 the top, wiped dry with sponges, and the cap placed over the 

 opening. The " cappers" stand directly in front of the wiping 

 table, and each one has his own fire pot, irons, files, and everything 

 he uses before him. Taking the tray, he rapidly applies by means 

 of a small brush the acid or flux necessary to make the solder 

 flow freely around the cap, and then with the iron melts the solder 

 and puts it in the groove. The can is then vented and is ready 

 for the " bath." The baths except in size are constructed simi- 

 larly to the scalder and a thin cedar cover fits over each one. The 

 cans are placed in wire or iron crates, lowered into the boiling 

 water, and allowed to remain as long as necessary to cook them. 

 The time of working varies in the different factories, but all the 

 way from 30 to 50 minutes is required. They are then taken 

 from the bath and placed on a slat-floor, where the air can pass 

 through them, and when they are cold are "tested" generally by 

 striking them with an awl. The testers become so expert that 

 they can instantly detect by the sound an imperfect or leaking 

 can ; these are thrown out, mended, re-pressed, and put back in 

 the pile. The cans are now ready for the next thing, which is 

 labelling. 



Labelling is done in different ways, and some canuers with an 

 idea of saving labor employ devices which are not only hard on 

 the young girls who do the work, but which often result in much 

 confusion and poor work. The best method is to divide the help 

 into parties of five, one girl sitting on one side of the table with 

 paste-pan, brush, and labels and the other four opposite her. 

 The one girl, if quick and active, will paste the ends of the labels 

 as fast as the other four can put them on the cans. The table is 

 of course alongside the pile of cans, and two smart boys will 

 place the cans on the table. As a girl labels a can she pushes it 

 from her, when it is taken by the boxer, put in the box, and 

 nailed up. This mode is simple and effective, and as the gang 

 will label from 700 to 900 cases in a day the work progresses 

 rapidly. 



In many of the larger factories patent processing kettles, cap- 

 ping irons, and improved machinery are used, but as the result 



