The Library of Work and Play: Outdoor WorkMiller, Mary Rogers
Philosophy
The Library of Work and Play: Outdoor Work
Miller, Mary Rogers
Agriculture -- Juvenile literature
Making prime quality unfermented grape juice requires two forenoons.
If you want your jars to be clear from top to bottom instead of
muddy with sediment you will set the juice away in an enamelled or
glass vessel until morning, when you will see why this precaution is
necessary. With greatest care dip the clear liquid off and filter
it. A flannel bag made in the shape of a cone with a stiff wire or
wooden ring at the top to hold it open, is the best filter. Several
thicknesses of flannel or felt are better than one. All the tiny
particles of sediment will be caught in the woollen meshes and the
juice will be pure. The last traces of settlings, will be removed and
the liquid will be clear. The colour and flavour will depend on the
kind of grape used.
Put the filtered juice into bottles or fruit jars that have been
sterilized by boiling in water. Do not fill them quite full. Wiping
is unnecessary. Fit a false bottom made of a thin board or slats into
the bottom of the washboiler and set the jars of grape juice with
rubbers and covers on but not screwed down in on this. Put water into
the boiler till it comes up to the shoulders of the jars. Heat now
until the water is on the point of boiling, but do not let it boil.
Remove jars from the water and screw down the covers. If bottles are
used, clean, sterilized corks must be put in, while the juice is still
in the hot water. If the corks are very tight further sealing is not
required, but wax or paraffine is put over them by cautious persons to
make assurance doubly sure.
Quart jars are probably most economical and will find a ready sale.
Grape juice will ferment very soon after unsealing and should be used
immediately. Even a small family will have no difficulty in consuming
a quart if given the opportunity. Many delicious desserts can be made
with this juice combined with sugar, eggs, gelatine, cream, lemons, and
other fruits.
MAKING LEAF MOULD
Every year I see boys and girls raking leaves from the lawns and
either piling them in the street or in the back yard and then burning
them. Nobody likes an outdoor fire more than I do, whether it is a
real camp fire, a little back yard faggot fire just enough to roast
a few potatoes and onions and play gypsy, or a big blazing bonfire,
almost dangerous and wholly splendid. What I don't like is a sickly,
smouldering pile of leaves sending out a suffocating smudge, bursting
with sudden flame at night and having to be put out after you had your
slippers on and had begun a new book. Such a fire is a nuisance to you
and to the neighbourhood and no satisfaction.
Burning leaves is like burning money. That is quite another way of
looking at it. "Why, most people have to pay out money to get their
leaves taken away," you say. True, but that is because we are such
a lot of wasters. We are just beginning to learn to be economical,
because we must. To make a long story short, turn your leaves into
money by composting them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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