262 AGRICULTURE 



commercial canneries in the United States is known as the 

 "cold-pack" and single period method of canning. This sim- 

 ply means that the fruits are packed in their fresh and natu- 

 ral state into the glass jar or container. Sirup is applied, and 

 the sterilization is done in the jar or container after it is par- 

 tially sealed, thus making it impossible fof bacteria, spores 

 and molds to enter or come in contact with the food product 

 after the sterilization has taken place. By this method 

 vegetables are blanched in boiling hot water, plunged 

 quickly in cold water, skins removed or otherwise cut in sec- 

 tions and prepared, then packed in container and sterilized 

 in partially sealed glass jars or the perfectly sealed tin cans. 

 By this method, all food products, including general fruits, 

 vegetables, and meats can be successfully sterilized in a sin- 

 gle period, with but one handling of the product. 



4. Cold Water Method. There is considerable misun- 

 derstanding as to the meaning of the term "cold-pack 

 method of canning." It is often interpreted as meaning the 

 cold-water method of canning, which is not true. It simply 

 means that the food products are packed in the containers, 

 jars or tin cans, in their fresh state, and all sterilization or 

 cooking performed after the pack has been completely or 

 partially sealed. The cap is never removed after the cook- 

 ing has been completed until the product is to be used dur- 

 ing the year. 



The cold-water method of canning referred to by -house- 

 wives is a method often used for the canning of rhubarb, 

 green gooseberries, and a comparatively few other sour 

 and highly acid vegetables and fruits. We do not recom- 

 mend this method for the reason that most of these 

 products will need to be cooked anyway before they can 

 be used, either for pie-filling or sauces, and it is a saving 

 of labor to do the cooking at the beginning, when the 

 product is canned. For the benefit of those who wish to 



