The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-02-21
Established 1926.


The editor Of the Gpper Sandusk y
/ Pioneer, who is native Italian, gives
in recent number Of his paper, an
interesting account Of the use OF chest.
nuts as an article of food in his native
land as follows -
Chsstnuts-a Leading Article Of Food In
Italy.
In some parts OF Italy, the wooded
land consists mainly Of Chestnut Trees.
Every hillside and mountain 10 a chest.
nut orchard. Many Of the more suit.
able hilIsides. are devoted TO the cnlti.
vatlon OF Olive Trees, for the purpose
of raising olive oil, which, in that coun
try, is used ia place Of butter.
Chestnuts are cultivated in Italy
with more care than apples in this
country. Dreary mountain sides
where it is almost dangerous for men
to attempt 10 walk. are terrlced
and rendered into chestnut orchards
AS soon as one tree dies, or becomes
unfruitful, il is cut down, and a saplin
| planted in its place Nurseries. where
the young trees are raised, are very
numerous, and after they are lraus.
planted about three years, they are
grated in any desired variety. The
! process of grating is as follows: The
bark of very young limb, Of an old
tree, is iosened, and cut SO as to con.
tain bud, then it is pulled off and
put on u limb of the saplin Of the
came size, which, usually grows, and
bears the same kind as the tree from
which it was taken. Grating is done
in the spring. The variety OF chest
nuts raised are very numerous, and
the flavor Of the nuts is as numerous
and varied. Strange as 1t may be. no
matter what kind OF chestnuts you
may plant, if permitted to grow with
odt grating, the nuts will be of a very
inferior quality and size; so much so
that when any such trees occur in or
chards, they are generally cut down,
or no attention given to their fruits
The task of gathering these nuts is
one that requires much industry and
patience But as they are cultivated,
they are about four times as large as
those grown in this country. Again
when the NUS are ripe, the burs open
very nicely, and allow the nuts % fall
They are gathered every day or SO, i'll
they are all secured and taken to the
residence of the owner, or to dry -hous-
es in the woods, built expressly for
storing away leaves, which are care
fully gathered, and also for drying the
nuts.
In drying these nuts, they are plac
ed on lathes, arranged so as to allow
the heat to penetrate between them
and at the same time so close as not Il
permit the nuts to fall through. These
athes are arranged about seven ol
eight feet from the floor, and then The
room being closed, large fire is bull
in the middle of the room. on clay
hearth, and continued till the nuts are
thoroughly dried and hard. The ltal
JAMS are famous for music and otheI
things, but the inventive genious o
the Yankee is not observed in the fol
; lowing Chestnut Huller. 1t consist
of u solid block, with smooth surface
somewhat resembling that used by on
butchers, for the purpose of cutting
meat on. Now comes the threshine
, There are usually three men at the op
GRAFTON. Each one is provided with
, long, narrow bag, one end of which !
, tied with very strong cord and the 9th
J er left open. Each man puts abou
t half peck of nuts in the bag an
, then they strike alternately on th
} block Tor a few times, which break
the hulls off of the nuts, leaving tn
e kernel whole, as it becomes very har
2 by dry ing. Then they are emptie
r on table, where the women clea
g them with their hands, as they hav
S no fans there. This is tedious pro
c cess When the kernels are all sep
arated from the hulls and dirt, the
e are taken to the mill and ground INT
j -four, which is very sweet and Il ght.-
a When brought home, it is packed !
= large chests, by tramping il down wit
Q the feet. II will keep till the mex
D years crop is again ready tor us'
, This -four is used for as many purpo'
es as wheat -four is in this country
s The common people, however, max
y mush of 1t. The seasoning consle'
t simrly of salt and water. During th
winter this meal forms one half OF tb
g food Of the common people.
s Those who can afford 1T, use shee
n and COW cheese, and olive oil, an
s when this is done, very nice, dell'
:. ious dish is the result. Bread is al;
= made, which is very good
W A SPIRITUAL MANlFEsTATIoN ,-N'