WATERMELON RIND PRESERVES

One and one-half quarts prepared watermelon rind
1 tablespoon ground ginger
4 tablespoons salt
4 cups sugar
2 quarts cold water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 lemon, thinly sliced
7 cups water

To prepare watermelon rind - trim green skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind; cut into 1-inch pieces. Dissolve salt in 1 quart water and pour over rind. Let stand 5 to 6 hours if salt is used. Drain; rinse and drain again. Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes. Drain. Sprinkle ginger over rind; cover with water and cook until fork-tender. Drain. Combine sugar, lemon juice and 7 cups water. Boil 5 minutes; . add rind and boil gently for 30 minutes. Add sliced lemon and cook until the melon rind is clear. Pack, boiling hot, into hot Ball jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Adjust caps. Process half pints and pints 20 minutes at 180 - 250 degrees F in hot water bath.

Yield: about 6 half pints