e ordinary stewpans may be employed for
this purpose.

Scales are a desirable article in every kitchen, as weighing is much
more accurate than the ordinary measuring. But, knowing that a large
percentage of the housekeepers do not possess scales, it has seemed wise
to give all the rules in measure rather than weight.

If canning is done by the oven process, a large sheet of asbestos, for
the bottom of the oven, will prevent the cracking of jars.

The wooden rack, on which the bottles rest in the washboiler, is made in
this manner: Have two strips of wood measuring 1 inch high, 1 inch wide,
and 2 inches shorter than the length of the boiler. On these pieces of
wood tack thin strips of wood that are 1-1/2 inches shorter than the
width of the boiler. These cross-strips should be about 1 inch wide, and
there should be an inch between two strips. This rack will support the
jars and will admit the free circulation of boiling water about them.
Young willow branches, woven into a mat, also make a good bed for
bottles and jars.

[Illustration: FIG. 1.--Wire basket.]

The wire basket is a saver of time and strength (fig. 1). The fruit to
be peeled is put into the basket, which is lowered into a deep kettle
partially filled with boiling water. After a few minutes the basket is
lifted from the boiling water, plunged for a moment into cold water, and
the fruit is ready to have the skin drawn off.

[Illustration: FIG. 2.--Wire sieve.]

A strong wire sieve is a necessity when purees of fruit are to be made
(fig. 2). These sieves are known as puree sieves. They are made of
strong wire and in addition have supports of still stronger wire.

[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Fruit pricker.]

A fruit pricker is easily made and saves time (fig. 3). Cut a piece half
an inch deep from a broad cork; press through this a dozen or more
coarse darning needles; tack the cork on a piece of board. Strike the
fruit on the bed of needles, and you have a dozen holes at once. When
the work is finished, remove the cork from the board, wash and dry
thoroughly. A little oil on the needles will prevent rusting. With
needles of the size suggested there is little danger of the points
breaking, but it is worth remembering that the use of pricking machines
was abandoned in curing prunes on a commercial scale in California
because the steel needles broke and remained in the fruit.

[Illustration: FIG. 4.--Wooden vegetable masher.]

A wooden vegetable masher i