CANNING FRUITS WITHOUT SIRUP.—­Can the product the same day it is picked.  Cull, stem, or seed, and clean the fruit by placing it in a strainer and pouring water over it until it is clean.  Pack the product thoroughly in glass jars or tin cans until they are full; use the handle of a tablespoon, wooden ladle, or table knife for packing purposes.  Pour over the fruit boiling water from a kettle, place rubbers and caps in position, partially seal if using glass jars, seal completely if using tin cans.  Place the containers in a sterilizing vat, such as a wash boiler with false bottom, or other receptacle improvised for the purpose.  If using a hot-water bath outfit, process for 30 minutes; count time after the water has reached the boiling point; the water must cover the highest jar in container.  After sterilizing seal glass jars, wrap in paper to prevent bleaching, and store in a dry, cool place.

If you are canning in tin cans it will improve the product to plunge the cans quickly into cold water immediately after sterilization.  When using a steam pressure canner instead of the hot-water bath, sterilize for 10 minutes with 5 pounds of steam pressure.  Never allow the pressure to go over 10 pounds.

The Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm.

CHAS. HARALSON, SUPT., EXCELSIOR.

The Minnesota State Fruit-Breeding Farm was established eight years ago, principally for breeding new varieties of fruit adapted to our climate and conditions.  The aim of this work is to assist the people in getting better commercial varieties of the various fruits grown in the state, so that better returns could be secured for the people engaged in the various lines of fruit growing.  Some of the plant-breeding work is beginning to show results, a few varieties of fruit are being distributed in a small way for trial in different localities.

A great deal of work has been done with apples.  Seedlings have been grown by the thousands every year with the idea of selecting some desirable varieties when the trees come into fruiting.  Hardiness of tree, long keeping and good quality of fruit are the most desirable points we are looking for in our selections.  A great deal of crossing under glass is being done with apples; a number of seedlings, the results of this crossing work, are planted every spring.

Some of the six thousand Malinda apple seedlings planted seven years ago have fruited to some extent for the last three years.  These show a great variation in fruit, both in color, quality and long keeping.  Some of the fruit ripens with the Duchess, while others will keep until spring in good condition.  There is a chance for some desirable varieties out of this lot, but it will take several years to determine whether we have anything better than the Wealthy.  The Wealthy is by far our best commercial variety, but we are looking for something that will keep until spring.

Gooseberries and currants are easily raised and are perfectly hardy with us, but we are working to get some improvement on these varieties.  Many thousand seedlings are being grown for this purpose.  Our native gooseberries are used in breeding work with the cultivated varieties to a great extent, as they are hardy, strong growers and resistant to mildew.