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96 DOMESTIC COOKERY AND

end of the match, and put it in; put the bung on slightly
so as to hold the other end, and allow air sufficient to
make it burn; when the rag has burned out, drive in
the bung to keep in the sulphuric gas, which, if allowed
time, will condense on the sides.

The apples should be kept under cover, and secured
from rain; after they have laid to mellow for two or
three weeks, select those that are sound; break off the
stems and leaves; have the trough perfectly clean, and
after they are ground, keep them from the sun and rain
for twenty-four hours, then press them, and fill into the
casks; the first running is always the best; each cask
that is filled should be numbered, so as to know the
quality; and after they are all filled, draw off and mix
them, the weak with the strong; keep the casks filled
up with cider, while they are fermenting; when the
fermentation is subsiding, there will a thin white scum
rise slowly; when this is all off, lay on the bung lightly;
rack it off in a few days in barrels in which brimstone
has been used, and bung it tight; rack it off again in
March, and keep the bungs in tight.

To Make Vinegar.

You may always have good vinegar for pickling, and
other purposes, by taking a little pains. Get a tight
whiskey barrel, if it is clean you need not rinse it, and
put into it ten gallons of the best vinegar you can procure,
with one quart of whiskey and one quart of molasses;
every day for a week, add a gallon of good cider
that has not been watered, and shake the barrel each
time. Let it stand in this state two weeks, shaking the
barrel frequently. After this, you may put in a gallon
of cider occasionally, with any that has been left at table,
or the settlings of decanters or bottles that have had
wine in, but do not put in any water. It will make
much sooner in the garret or a warm place, but if the
barrel is fixed early in the summer, you will have plenty
to pickle with in the fall; taste it so as not to add cider
too fast. Have a phial with a string attached to it that
you can put in at the bung. You should have a barrel