[ To dry Black Figs.]
Weigh the Figs, and slit them at the Bottom; put them into boiling Water, and boil them ’till they are very tender; drain them well from the Water; then make a Syrup of clarify’d single-refin’d Loaf-Sugar, with their Weight, and half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar; when the Syrup is cold put in your Figs; let them lye all Night; the next Day boil them ’till they are very clear, and scald them every Day ’till the Syrup is very thick; then lay them out as you use them; but heat the Syrup after you have taken some out, or they will not keep: If they grow too dry, you may put them in the Syrup again, scalding the Syrup.
[ To preserve Grapes.]
Peel the Grapes and stone them; put them in a Pan, cover them very close; first let them boil, and set them sometimes on and off the Fire, ’till they are very green; then drain all the Juice from them; and to a Pint of Grapes put a Pound and a Half of Sugar, and half a Pint of Apple-Jelly; let them boil very fast ’till they are clear, and jelly very well: Put them in Pots or Glasses, with Paper close to them.
[ To dry Grapes.]
Take the large Bell-Grapes, just before they are ripe; stone them in Bunches, and put them into scalding Water, covering them close with Vine-Leaves, and a Cover on the Pan; keep them in a Scald, putting them on and off the Fire ’till they are green; then give them a Boil in the Water, drain them on a Sieve, and to every Pound of Grapes make a thick Syrup of a Pound and a Half of clarify’d Sugar; and when the Syrup is cold, put in the Grapes, and scald them every Day ’till the Syrup is thick, but never let them boil; then lay them out on Earthen Plates, and sift them very well with Sugar; dry them in a Stove, and turn and sift them every Day.
[ To dry Barberries.]
Take Barberries, stone them, and tye them in Bunches, or loose in Sprigs, which you please; weigh them, and to every Pound of Barberries clarify two Pound of Sugar; make your Syrup with something more than half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar; put the Barberries into the Syrup when it is scalding hot; set it on the Fire, and let them just boil; then set them by, with a Paper close to them; the next Day make them scalding hot, doing so for two Days; but be sure they never boil after the first Time; when they are cold, lay them out on Earthen Plates; sift them well with Sugar, and the next Day turn them on a Sieve; sift them again, and turn them every Day ’till they are dry: Your Stove must not be too hot.
[ To preserve Barberries.]
Stone the Barberries in Sprigs; and to a Pound of Barberries make a Syrup of a Pound and a Half of fine Sugar, with half a Pint of Water to a Pound of Sugar: Put the Barberries in the Syrup, and let them have a Boil; scald them every Day for four or five Days, but don’t let them boil: Put them in a Pot, and when you use any, heat the rest, or they will not keep.