"Remove the blossom end of each cucumber by slicing off and discarding 1/16th inch at the non-stem end. The enzymes of this portion make it prone to spoilage."
"If you notice scale in or on clean, used jars, it's probably a result of hard water. Soak the jars for several hours in a solution of 1 cup of vinegar and 1 gallon of water, and then wash them again."
--from The food Lover's Guide to Canning--by Rich and Crawford
