The Mysteries of Jam-making.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 5098, 7 October 1891, Page 1

The Mysteries of Jam-making.

The British Medical Journal throws more light on the mysteries of jammaking. *" An inquiring stranger, it says, who was being shown over a British wine manufactory was struck by several high mounds of crimson dust. These ho was told were the refuse of the wino presses in which the juice of raspberries, currants, and other fruit used in the business was extracted for making tho wine. As it is seldom that anything is wasted in an English factory, an inquiry was made as to the form in which these mounds of dust would re-enter tho market ; tho visitor was promptly told that it was disposed of to jam-makers to give tho appearance of fruit to tho pulp of turnip, vegetable, apple, or whatnot, which forms tho basis of the confection. It would seem that almost anything -will do to make jam of, as tho chemist can produce a flavor to imitate every kind of fruit. It is commonly supposed that orange-peel is picked up in the streets wherewith to make marmalade. Probably this is a slander on tho preserve maker ; but, according to tho report of a, case heard this year in a metropolitan police court, rotten oranges in the condition of a "black pulpy substance," and " quite unfit to eat," as tho inspector very sapiently remarked, are considered by tho owners of the fruit as good enough to bo "chopped up for marmalade." Oranges for this " excellent substitute for buttor at breakfast," only cost 4s a box, whereas fruit for eating costs 12s.