Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-02-08
CHICKORY-DANDELION. =. =

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Chickory grows wild in most parts Of Europe
and in Englsnd-sud is nsturalized in America
1t is said that large quantities of it grow in Eastern
North Carolina 1t blossoms in August and Sep
TENDER, and can be easily recognized by its large
pale-blue flowers The stem grows FROM to feet
in height ordinarily, but under cultivation, may be
brought up to q feet 1t has large white tap-root,
which, when cultivated, greatly increases in size.
These are taken up before the plant shoots into
hower-are washed, sliced and dried; it is then
roasted till Of chocolate color. Two pounds of
lard are roasted with hundred weight, and the
root loses in roasting from % to 80 per cent When
ground and exposed to the air, it becomes moist
and clammy, increases in weight, and smells like
liquorice the taste being sweet at tirst-t now has
the appearance of ground coffee. 1t has not, how
ever, the essential principle, theine) of coffee, and
therefore cannot serve its physiological purposes,
nor has it the pleasant aroma. 1t does have an
empyreumatic volatile oil, produced during the
roasting, which perhaps exercises nerve-soothing,
hungerstaying influence upon the system; it has,
also bitter principle. These ingredients of chick
DRY are probably not injurious to health, if taken
in small quantities, but prolonged and frequent
use produces heartburn, cramp in the stomach loss
of appetite acdty in the mouth constipation inter-
mittent diarrhcea, tremblngs seepeSsnesS, cloudi-
ness of the Senses &c, &C. Itgives color and taste
like unto, hence its introduction for adulteraton
with coffee, to make money for the coffee-seller.-
Fhe chickory-dealer adulterates his chckory with
Venetian-red, roasted wheat. rye, acornS carrots
and oakbark POWDER to please the eye of the coffee
dealer; and the Venetianred manufacturer grinds
up his color with brck-dust, FOR cheapness and va
retv, to secure the patronage of the chickory deal
err Thus saith the record of the best authorities.
Todeect chckory in coffee, put the powder in cold
water. 1t gives dark brewnish color-coffee does
not This simple test sometimes greatly weakens
our faith in coffee extracts" To detect coffee,
put into the infusion some salts of the peroxide of
iron, it becomes green and gives brown-green pre-
cipitate, chickory gives brownish yellow, and no
precipitate
The pandelion (Fr, dent de lion, meaning the
lions tooth, and so called from fancied resem-
bance Of its single forets) is well known plant,
belonging to the same class and order of the chick
ory or succori as sometimes called. The flowers
are very conspicuous in carly spring, and are hailed
as the harbnger of warm weather in the Northern
United States. 1t has perennial root of bitter
milky Juice, the leaves of which when banched are
used as salad the root when dried and ground, is
used to aduterate coffee, but does not possess the
aroma nor the characteristic principle theme Of
coffee Like chckory, its color and cheapness are
the cause of its being mixed with coffee these
please the popular taste-henee the ease with which
imposition of the grossest character is practced-
As medicine it is said to be aperient detergent
and STR agly diuretic, when used fresh.
Six or eight millions of pounds of chickory are
imported into England annually from EuropeAwe
know not how many into this country. The use of
such vast amount is one Of many instances, show
ing howcasy it is to create corrupt taste among
the masses of society, which taste afterwards de-
mands the expenditure of millions of hardearned
dolars.to satisfy its own vicious cravings Wealth
produces luxury, and luxury introduces ashordeof
false habits and appetites, which rob manhood of
its true nobility, and weaken the life-blood of the
physical moral and intellectual man. Ne people
in the world are more wealthy than We. of these
Confederate States, and no people have or will
have greater need for chemical research and an I'M
conquerable will to Withstand the ten thousand
evils that war against our development
j. S. W.