I9i i.] 



Fruit Bottling. 



977 



wet weather is experienced in the spring it is probable that 

 the pollen is not dry enough for the agency of the wind to 

 be effective. 



FRUIT BOTTLING. 

 J. Udale, 



Instructor in Horticulture, Worcester County Council. 



Though the method of preserving fresh fruit by the 

 process of bottling has been practised for several generations, 

 it is not yet so common as it deserves to be. There are two- 

 reasons for this : Firstly, the process is considered to be 

 difficult ; and secondly, there is a general impression that a 

 special and costly apparatus for sterilisation is absolutely 

 necessary. 



With regard to the first point it is only necessary to say 

 that in domestic work there are few tasks more simple or 

 easy to perform, and any ordinarily intelligent person may 

 successfully bottle fruit. As to the second point, a patent 

 steriliser is not necessary, and the writer, who commenced 

 bottling fruit in 1903, has never used one. All that is really 

 required is a large saucepan, fish-kettle, or some similar vessel 

 in which water can be heated. 



Bottles. — These may be obtained specially made for the 

 purpose, through almost any ironmonger, at from three 

 shillings to six shillings and sixpence per dozen complete, 

 the price varying with the size and quality of the bottle. 

 Many persons have a decided preference for bottles with glass 

 tops instead of metal tops, and some like the "screw" tops; 

 whilst others prefer the bottles in which the tops, covers, or 

 discs are held in position by "spring " clips. When counting 

 the cost of the process of bottling it is well to remember that 

 the same bottles, when once obtained, may be used repeatedly 

 until broken ; the chief renewals required being rubber rings, 

 which are used with bottles for rendering them air-tight. 



It is absolutely essential that the bottles should be air- 

 tight. An imperfectly-fitting rubber ring or cover will be 

 sufficient to cause failure after perfect sterilisation ; the rings 

 and covers must, therefore, fit perfectly. As this cannot 

 always be guaranteed, there will be an occasional bottle which 



