HOW TO BOTTLE FRUIT AND TO MAKE FRUIT-BOTTLING PAY. 101 



HOW TO BOTTLE FRUIT AND TO MAKE FRUIT- 

 BOTTLING PAY. 



By Edith Bkadley, F.R.H.S. 



The importance of the preservation of fruit as a home industry is becom- 

 ing more marked each year ; and whether it be done in large quantities 

 when the season is good and the market glutted, or whether for home 

 consumption only, it is but right and just that more attention should be 

 paid to a more systematic preservation of fruit than has hitherto obtained. 

 Two methods are open : the fruit can be dried or evaporated, and so 

 stored in a very portable form, or it can be bottled or sterilised, and this 

 form of preservation lends itself to many variations and offers endless 

 scope for experiment and effect. 



It may be asked, why should the subject be so important ? Because 

 we are a fruit-loving and fruit- and vegetable- eating nation. The foreigner 

 knows this and sends all sorts of dainty and delicious fruits and vegetables 

 to England, on which he must often make 60 to 100 per cent, profit. 

 Bottled fruit forms a staple article of trade at the stores and in all large 

 grocers' shops ; but they are not bottled in England. Why not ? Because 

 we have not yet learned to do them well enough, so we support the 

 foreigner as usual ! 



Truly it is time to " Wake up, England ! " and in this case we might 

 say " Wake up, Women of England ! " because this is essentially a branch 

 of work suitable in every way for women to do. 



Recognising these truths early in its history, Lady Warwick Hostel 

 turned its attention in a most practical form to the preservation of fruit, 

 and for the last two seasons has been carrying out various experiments in 

 the sterilisation of fruit and vegetables. Acting on the experience thus 

 acquired, it has now brought out a steriliser, called the " Lady Warwick 

 College Steriliser," for fruit, vegetables, jams, and milk which, after very 

 careful testing, has a right to the claim of being a most distinct improve- 

 ment on existing systems ; although a vast field remains open for minute 

 observation and experiment before finality can be obtained. 



In the following paper I propose to keep in view three main points : . 



(1) Why we should bottle fruit. 



(2) The different methods of doing it. 



(3) How to make it pay. 



1. — Why we should Bottle Fruit. 



First, to be independent of the foreigner. Secondly, to spend the 

 money on English produce (therefore on a home industry), instead of 

 sending it to France, Germany, and other Continental countries. Can it 

 be done ? Why not ? Fruit-growing has been and is being taken up 

 most extensively. Year by year, according to the agricultural returns, an 

 increasing acreage is being laid down in fruit. 



