To pickle Barberries

Ingredients

• white wine vinegar
• water
• 1/2 pound sugar
• 1/4 pound white salt
• barberries
• fennel

Instructions

1. Mix equal quantities of white wine vinegar and water, adding half a pound of cheap sugar to every quart.
2. Pick over the barberries, putting the worst into the liquor and the best into glasses.
3. Boil the pickle with the worst barberries, skimming clean, until it looks a fine colour, then let it cool before straining.
4. Strain through a cloth, wringing out all the colour, then let it cool and settle.
5. Pour the clear pickle into the glasses over the best barberries.
6. Boil a little fennel in some of the pickle; when cold, lay a bit at the top of each pot and cover close with a bladder or leather.
7. Add a quarter pound of white salt to every half pound of sugar used.