The Portland daily press., 1876-08-14
THE PRESS.
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Preserved PrAyisinns

Preserved Provisions,
"Canisters of boiled mutton, supplied to
the Arctic Expedition in 1924, were found by
Captain Sir James Ross in Prince Regents
Inlet in 1S49, in a perfect state of preserva-
tion.'
Two years after the last mentioned date,
we saw in the Great Exhibition at London,
the same cans of provisions still in good con-
dition, as above described in the official cat
alogue. On our Atlantic voyage of the same
year we had our first experience of the COM
fort and convenience of Theoretically sealed
provisions. When they began to come into
of their general introduction into this coun-
try would come within the limits of the last
twenty years.
This department in the Centennial Exhi-
bition is especially interesting-the French
taking the lead in dainties and dellcacies {;
and yet the French government has sent
there an expert to study our processes of
putting up food. A recent correspondent
from Philadelphia thus humorously writes /:
"For those whose gustatory powers have
been satiated with ordinary fare, should
recommend course of fish-tasting at the
Centennial. After having pecked at some
five hundred different kinds of fish prepare.
tons, possibly the edge Of ones appetite
might become dulled. 1t has been my good
fortune to eat, however, some quite excellent
but nondescript things at the Centennial.
Now reindeer steaks, as put up in Finland,
are excellent, and / can recommend them
freely, but I do not banker after the
potted tails Of either the jumping kangaroo,
or of the tawny giraffe, though with we'll
baked and juicy young elephants foot, it
would be with me, cut and come again. {"
he then refers to Mr.. Appert's exhibit,
"where peas and beans are just as beauti-
full when cooked, as when fresh culled;" and
says, "now, people who eat any canned prep
arations should look on Mr.. Appert with a
certain amount Of respect; for he was the
Columbus of this most useful business, and
was the first to discover how to put up her.
medically sealed food" Without positive ey.
idence however to the contrary, we are in
clined to dissent from this conclusion, and to
give the credit to the English; as it is hardly
probable that the present successful exhibitor
was also rival in the field more than fifty
years ago, as we have shown already Occur
pied by the English manufacturer.
Wherever the priority of invention or dis
covery may belong, the present century has
seen the building up of great business
based upon the necessities of the times, and
supplying its demands using large capital
and employing many hands---not to be re-
garded as it sometimes is, as merely furnish
ing luxuries for the rich. Rightly consld
cred, it has sanitary significance, is
intimately connected with the promotion
of longevity, opens entirely new avenues
and opportunities for home industries, and
enters even into the computations of the
political economist. 1t commends itself
to the consideration of the statesman,
as well as to the careful housekeeper;
for thus the surplus of a perishable
crop, and the remnants Of single meal can
be prudently preserved. No method so eff
fectual to save waste and loss, to war against
the extremes of heat and cold, to utilize the
glut of market or the over production of
an impot emit crop. How far superior in its
possibilities to the ancient methods of laying
up store against famine in time of album
dance. What facilities it affords to the voy-
ager and. explorer-how many expeditions
have proved failures without such aid and
comfort how essential its convenences to
the world at large, alike to the dweller in the
city palace and the frontier cabin.
1t is our impression that our own State
furnishes unrivalled opportunities for the
successful carrying on of this business, and
although well begun, it is yet in its frs. be-
ginnings. We believe however that it might
be proftably undertaken in many towns and
neighborhoods, without waiting for the adj
vent OF capitalists and the organization of
companies. We urge farmers, gardeners,
and all producers of food for the benefit OF
man whether from the land or sea, to begin
to make provision for their own wants in
this direction, and then to allow the develop
ment of such an industry as their own capa-
cities or the wants of the locality will sus-
tain