A Simple Way of Bottling Fruit and Vegetables.

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 51

A Simple Way of Bottling Fruit and Vegetables.

Even small gardens often have a little surplus of fruit or vegetables, but often the housewife in these busy days feels that, if bottling means an elaborate process, and packing the bottles round with hay, etc., it really is not worth it. This plan is simple, but please remember that if you want your bottling to be a success the instructions must be followed exactly. First put your jars or bottles, which, of course, must be scrupulously clean and quite dry, on the rack over the range, to get them as hot -as 7 ' possible. Then nearly, fill each bottle with fruit, and put them, in a shallow tin of hot water (the baking tin will do excellently) in the oven for precisely 15 minutes. Fill up each bottle with boiling water. Then pour in some mutton fat, and before the fat is cold seal down with paper. If mutton fat is scarce, use olive oil instead. The thinnest layer of oil is just as effective as mutton fat, and we always use a vegetable oil in bottling fruit or vegetables. Be sure to remember-that the boiling water must quite cover the fruit, so don't fill the jars too full with the fruit, but leave room for the water. Ignorant cooks sometimes throw away the water when using the bottled fruit in winter, but the water should, of course, oe cooked, as it contains so much of the flavour. The Iffome A'nrso. Think of the patient first, of yourself a very long way after. And, however unreasonable his directions may seem, obey the doctor implicitly; you are working under him, you know. Wear soft shoes in the sick-room, but not those which shuffle; and plain -washing gowns, sensibly short, and see that they do not rustle. Few things irritate a sick person more than the rustle and bustle of a fussy nurse. Write down the doctor's orders, so that there may be no possibility of any mistakes. Be cheerful, but not forcedly so ; overmuch "breeziness* is as unpopular as overmuch gloom with your patient. The more normal and gentle and unemotional you are, the better his chances of recovery will prove to be. Do not overcrowd the room with flowers, especially those with a strong scent. Keep everything exquisitely fresh and tidy and restful in appearance. A patient observes keenly, even if he does not openly comment upon such things. Remember that you are an amateur, and be willing to learn from those of more experience than yourself. That is the only real road to knowledge in the realm of nursing. And it is not so verv hard to tread if one has patience and pluck! Use tlir harden. Those who do not go away for the summer might try the plan of living in the garden as much as possible, but that means that you must arrange to have things comfortable, or the plan will not be a success. A good-sized and rather low trestle-table is an immense comf<s?£p for when not in use it can be packed away, and it can easily be carried about from place to place as required. If given two coats of white or green paint, it can be left out of doors without suffering any harm.

A Tablecloth Tip. If a tab cloth is used for alfresco meals, „ coloured or checked one, like those -sed in open-air cafe3 abroad, not only joks prettier and more suitable than a white one, but keeps its freshness longer. To prevent it from blowing about on windy days, a little pocket should be made at each corner, and a leaden dress weight or a pebble inside each. Another plan to save washing is to cover the table-top with white American cloth. When this is used, it is a good idea to nail two opposite ends of the cloth on to rollers, as school wall-maps are. When the meal is over, the cloth can be rolled up very ciuickly. It is easily gtored, and will not crack. Have cups of a sensible shape, wide at the bottom, so as to stand firmly; and remember that thick china will keep the tea hot. Mugs should be used instead of cups for the children. Indeed, many grown-ups would prefer them. The garden should always have its own cushions, with gay , covers, which are 3trong enough to stand the rough handling they are sure to receive. The stiff Japanese garden-mats are both decorative and serviceable, and if they are not obtainable in the local shops they can be made out of squares of Japanese matting, thinly stuffed.

Old waterproofs are invaluable in serving' as linings for long, narrow cushions, thinly stuffed, and covered with casement cloth, or for lining the old travelling rug or dyed blanket, which should be provided for garden guests who love to take their ease on the grass. Small semi-cir-cular cushions made of odd pieces of linen or casement cotton, and provided with loops, so that they may be hung on the backs of deck-chairs, will be found a great comfort, for they exactly fit into the back of one's nock.

Use the garden as much as possible, no matter how tiny or how overlooked bv neighbours. The joy of coming down to a tidy house in the morning is worth a great deal —there are no crumbs to sweep up in a garden! Then the fresh air and the freedom from so many little household tasks when rooms are not being used has a wonderfully soothing effect on a busy woman's nerves.