The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-07
Our August Markets.

August is a month which is always good
deal dreaded by the city housckecper who
stays at home and has to cater for family
| The thermometer may not be SO high in the
dog days as it was just after the summer
solstice, but the bricks and stones Of the
town have become thoroughly heated blythe
two months beating Of the sun, and muggy
and sultry days are frequent. Great care
must be taken that meats and vegetables do
not speedily spoil, and cooks and chamber
maids begin to show the frailty Of the hu-
man temper
Fortunately, however the summer mar
kets in New York are bountifuly supplied
with a fair variety Of food, and this year the
prices of substantial and delicate articles
for the table are very reasonable while the
health officers Of the city keep sharp
| lookout to prevent the sale Of meats, vcgc-
tables, and fruits which are unfit for ca ting
We are no longer chiefly dependent on a
few markets, to reach which requires long
journey, but throughout the city large and
small markets are scattered. These furnish
an ample variety of all the food of the sea-
son, and at prices which. on the whole, diff
fer little from those prevailing at the dirty
and crowded Washington Market, whore the
dealers frequently alter their charges dur
ing the day according as the supply may
be great or small, So that sometimes an
afternoon buyer has the advantage of one
who appears there with his basket n few
hours after sunrise.
The display at the uptown markets is
tempting just now. though August is not
month remarkable for the variety of its
food, and this year the supply Of fruits is
not SO great and the quality Of them is not
yet SO good as they sometimes are at this
season. Vegetables, however. arc plenty
enough. So far we have received very few
peaches which can satisfy the taste of any
one who has eaten the best varieties Of that
luscious fruit. Those that are now offered
are poor i'm flavor and inferior in size. and
are chiefly from Maryland and Delaware
whore the peach crop Is not good. Our first
peaches come from Florida, then we get
them from the Carolinas and Georgia, and
aftcrward from Maryland and Delaware,
but the early supply from the moro South
ern States always commands high prices,
and those which first reach us from the
more northern orchards are not desirable.
This year the orchards have not been fruit
full and therefore the prices Of peaches are
pretty certain to continue high.
Bartlett pears from California are now the
| best In the market, and command prices
which put them beyond the reach OF people
! Of small means, There is also u supply of
Southern pears, but they also are compare
lively expensive and not Of the best quality.
The early or harvest apples are not very
abundant, but some of the varieties have a
pleasant flavor and their prices are not
great. These apples, however are of little
account in comparison with the winter
apples which are now ripening on the trees,
and of which there Is the promise Of
fair crop. No fruit is better or more nu-
tritious as food than this, and its alum
dant supply il great blessing to the peo-
pie, the majority Of whom can afford no
other fruit during the autumn and winter
months.
Both wa,crmclons and muskmelons or
cantaloupes are yet Of poor quality and
small size, as a general thing but In the
course of week or ten days they will i'm
prove in both respects, and the supply Will
become abundant. Already the huckstcrs
are crying them through the streets, but
wise purchasers will let the carts pass by.
for unless n melon is very good it is unit to
eat and unless it is thoroughly ripc-and
many Of those now hawked about were
picked too soOn-t severely Furnishes the
foolish man who hazards the experiment of
consuming it, For berries we are reduced
To- blackberries and whortlcbcrries, both of
which are pretty good just now though tho
lattor are not very valuable for food, unless
they are cooked, when they make a sort of
blue dye which serves 10 mark their eater.
There are some plums to be- had at high
prices the finest Of which come from Cali
furna The plum tree, however, is the vic
TIM Of insect enemies which make its bear
ing dubious matter and the yield of the
fruit has grown comparatively small in the
older parts Of the country,
Til, has been remarkably good year for
tsh. just now blueilsh are abundant in the
markets and may be obtained at low prices.
Ii they are quite fresh and are properly
broied they make lirst-rate eating and are
very desirable food for young and old at this
time Of the year. Spanish mackcrol and pom
pano are greater delicaclcs and command
much higher prices; but people who are
forced to content Themselves with the more
common bluclish, which come hithcrhy sloop
loads, are still very well of, and need not
ask Tor pity. Poultry is growing cheaper
though its price keeps IT beyond the reach
ofscanty purses. Comparatively little game
can be- had, owing TO the game laws. but in
this State woodcock may now be sold
Snpe are pretty plenty and pigeons and
squalls are also obtainablc But this about
closes the list of game u the market
A man may supply his table now for much
less than five years ago, and though the
markets may not AFFORD as good chance a.
sometimes 10 satisfy caprcous taste fol
variety. every one who has the money tc
buy good food can get it at fair prices, and
alter his daily bill Of fare enough to satisfy
all the demands of health on appetite.
I Connecticut in the Next House.