263 



Method of curing GRAPES 



very well into the lye, the lye now boiling, you put as 

 many bunches 10 as will near cover the furface, and let 

 them fcald pretty well, but not too much fo as to be boiled ; 

 take them out gently into a wide flat cullender, with- 

 out bruifing, and lay them gently upon the ftage, unbind 

 them and lay every bunch fingle by itlelf, fo as not to 

 touch each other; if your ftage be large fo that you fcald 

 a great many bunches to fill it, and before you have done, 

 or near done, you have reafon to believe that your oil or 

 butter is expended, you throw in as much more as you 

 think will finifli your quantity, for this adds richnefs to 

 the raifms, and preferves them long without candying; if 

 you have hands to hold the bunches by the ftrings whilft ' 

 they fcald, it would be beft, becaufe they would be handled 

 without bruifing, and indeed this is the defign of tying fo 

 many bunches together, but if you are alone, or have but 

 one hand with you, and cannot well hold bunches enough 

 to cover the furface of the kettle, the beft way would be to 

 caft the bunches in fingle and to take them out with a flice or a 

 &immer. When your ftage is full, about three hours afteryou 



have done, turn the bunches into a dry place on the ftage, fo 

 that no wet may touch them, and that they may dry as 

 foon as poflible; before fun fet, at leaft half an hour, fet 

 up your roof and cover them from dews and rain ; the next 



morning as foon as the dews and damps are exhaled, un- 

 cover them, and turn them twice that day, and fo on till 



they are pretty moderately dry, fo as to be fit for keeping; 



then put them into jars with covers and plafter them over 

 with clay and horfe dung, and fet them away in a dry 

 cool place till you ufe or difpofe of them; but beware of 

 damps; And obferve that you are to begin this work in 

 the wain of the moon, your grapes muft be fully ripe and 

 taken from the vines when quite dry. All fruits gather- 

 ed in the wain of the moon will keep longer found and 

 good, than thofe gathered in the increafe. Note alfo that 

 thefe raifins thus cured, are fit for princes, for the rich and 



great, and ought to fetch a good price, fincc no raifins can 



be 



