The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-27
WHAT WE EAT.

WHAT WE EAT.
Resources Of the Metropolis i'm Small
traits, Vegetables and Fish-The Berry
Trade.
Our country cousins sometimes c0ndole with Us
our deprivation OF fresh fruits and vegetables.
They tell US that our marr0wfats are juiccless and
our string beans leathery; that our berries are
soft and our melons tasteless. To do them justice
they usually invite US to visit them in their hot
country homes, where we ind no shade for the
pazzas and no blinds at the windows; bur when
they give us strawberries they are fresh and
luscious. and we may steal . melon If we are
lucky enough to find ripe one Ia an unmatched
patch. Il Is undeniable that New York city does
not grow her own backberries or squashes. Yet
1t may also be said that the gardens aud fields OF
halt the Continent are planted for our benefit and
II our epicures do not enjoy that rare conjunction
OF freshness and rpeness which their rural friends
occasionally secure, they have brought to their
doors In fair condition the best products Of every
zone and all varieties OF climate.
Suppose the strawberry season at vineland lasts
three weeks and that then the fragrant globes are
marvels OF sweetness and navor, what Ii that CON-
pared with our strawberry season, running from
Easter to Independence Day-three months
during which time We are at liberty to revel IN the
july u0lutiCS III HOIu rlOElub W tuo
borders OF Lake Ontarios Early In April we had
the red tempters from the shores OF the Mexican
Gulf; now we receive Thorn from New Jersey, the
Hudson River counties and from Rochester SO,
too. Of all our supplies OF table dainties. We get
the early potato, the savory onion and the succu-
lent squash from the gardens OF Bermuda while
our breezes still are chilly Later we draw these
successfully IRON the crops Of Georgia. South Caro-.
lima, North Carolina, Virginia. Maryland, Della
ware, New Jersey. Long Island and at last, at the
close Of the season, from the wide West. Our
period Tor the sale and consumption OF all such
articles is MANIFOLD longer than that of the rustic
who depends for his table supplies upon his own
or his neighbours garden. In other words, steam
transportation gives US neighbors In distant lands,
and We draw at will upon nature in every CLINE.
STROLL THROUGH OUR MARKETS
shows that the business Of catering to the wants
OF the metropolis In the department. Of email fruits
ia one engaging great capital and employing
great amount OF labor. MOST OF our berries are
consigned rom the places at which they are pro.
duced to some one OF the wholesale dealers In
West Washington Market. which IS the central
depot of the trade. This market, whose condition
last year called for and received no small! amount
oil criticism by the HERALD, is now greatly i'm
proved. Instead OF the monstrous nuisance OF
extremity tainting the ali with stining stencil,
that space has been added to the market, making
room Tor some thirty new and commodious stalls,
with roadways substantially paved; and the whole
market, under Colonel Do Woes supervision, is
thoroughly ceansed twice each day. In the whole.
brought from New Jersey, the North River coun-
ties and from western New YORK. The quantities
ona
having suffered from late spring. followed
by drought. From present indications this fruit
two weeks longer. Next alter Strawberries In
order Of time appear the red raspberries, OF which
caps, or black raspherres which bring uniformly
greater price than the red kind. Meantime, the
goosebsrries are brought forward always unripe
blackberries, which mold on FAR into, the last
res the only one of these small fruits which come
In any large quantities from the forests. follow
soon alter strawberries, and continue to arrive in
thousands Of bushels tor mouths being brought in
turn from all the Wild hillsides rom the Potomac
to the Kennebec.
Most OF these various berries being distributed
from West Washington Market IN the carly morn
ing by the various gr0cers and restaurant Keepers
are bought by our citizens In all parts OF New York
and Brooklyn aud fnd their way to our tables. Of
some sorts. and at somo stages OF the season,
siderable quantities are shipped hence 70 cities
OF this aud the adjoining States, where they pre-
cede the local crops. Just now
CHERRIES
are beginning TO be seen, coming from yariOua
points at no great distance from the CITY THey
40 not last long In marxet, but for short time
come IN large quantities. In he most active por-
ton Of the strawberry season the several railways
which bring them run special strawberry trains
often employing hundreds OF daily to transport
hither this delicious fruit All the crates and
baskets are carried back to the berry farmers
without charge, the return freight being included
In the charge Tor bringing the fruit to market In
making sales the merchant takes pay for the
packages, and when they are returned In good
order the price Is refunded. The amount OF these
increasing during several years past and is still
growing with the increasing facility offered by the
faIways; Many persons OF small resources find it
TO their interest TO cultivate small area OF land
where with their own labor and that OF tneir
homsehods they can produce In fruits crop which
WIN QUICKLY bring return Of money, ana which is
more certain than grain crop. The products OF
all this industry. depend on New York for
marKet , ana New York thus finds It possible to eat
tic slope from Florida to Massachusetts,.
Besides the several small fruits our market now
presents abundant supplies OF string beans from
Virginia. peas from Long Island new potatoes from
MARYLAND squashes from North Carolina, caboages
Georgia and many other vegetable products from
which the householder who has money In his wallet
can readily choose the materials for such vege-
table feast as would be far away among the impOs-
slbltles TO the country cousin who criticises our
stale garden truck"
ANOTHER MARKED ADVANTAGE or NEW YORK
as c0ntrasted with any other place on this Cont
nent IS her abundant supply OF all sorts OF fish.
These all come 10 rs through Fulton Fish Market.
AT present there are blue fish. hallbut, weak 0sn,
porgies. Holsters turtle, mackerel and many other
varieties Much OF this class OF food, Caught by
omaVNc WI tHc CUaSt nearby, Is Drought directly
in the craft on Ice to the market slip Other pcr.
tons are brought by the Long Island and other
shofe railroads. They nre usually consigned TO
the Fulton Market dealers, and tho c0nsigners
pear the loss oil such portions are unsold before
a me become stale Carts convey all the spoiled
hsh away each afternoon, to be used Tor max
OIL. from The admirably arranged stores In the
fish market the retail dealers make their daily
purchases early in the morning, when the scene ID
one OF lively interest. Fish can be kept on ice m
good condition az this time about three days and
as all the dealers take to ice freely we can
count on bringing this class of food to our tables as
fresh as though cooked on the spot when they leave
the water.