The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-04
Vbe FARM.
A FRUITFUL TOPIC.
And one Worthy of Consid-

l1Ol.
People whose purses are plethoric
have ceased to regard strawberrlGs
AS a luxury, since hot horses, south
ern plantations, and railroad faclli-
ties have supplied their tables for
many weeks with this first ripe
fruit of the year. From Il dollar ii
box, strawberries have descended
to a reasonable sum, but the cold
and wet weather has kept the sup
ply limited, and the price above
what we usually expect at this sea
son: hence this luscious and wei
come fruit is a luxury beyond the
reach of the multitude.
The family exchequer, normally
at ebb-tide, because OF the hundred
and one demands made on It's limi-
ted resources, fails to see us much
nourishment in a sham quart OF
sour berries, as in more substantial
food. 1t is highly proper, and not
to be wondered at, that mothers
who are obliged to perform feats
but little short of conjuring, IN or
der to keep their families properly
clothed and cared for, should be-
stow much thought on the best
uses which a be made of a dollar,
but when home productions. and
June's longed for sunshine, shall
have brought fruit within Il rea-
sonable limit, let us hope that even
the most frugal of housekeepers
will recognize the importance of
furnishing it IN goodly quantities,
letting it take the place of puddings
and pies, and IN "a measure, of more
hearty fare.
When summer suns beam fer
vent J., and miasma turks in hid
den places, or hand IN hand with
disease and death, stalks boldly
through the land, the prolific hand
of Nature aided by mans ingenuity,
brings us ripe fruit IN abundance,
and although a luxury, and not alb
solutely necessary to our nutrIment,
inward craving proclaims it to be
appropriate to our needs, which
conviction is confirmed by the dis
ciples of Esculaplus, who assure us
that many ripe fruits possess medi-
cal properties hal render them val
liable promoters of health. 1t is a
matter to be regretted much of the
fruit which finds It's way to our
market is of inferior quality, and
oftentimes picked in an immature
state, when instead of being health
full and refreshing, it proves I'M
palatable and ii source of extreme
suffering and danger.
Strawberries, raspbercies, cur
rants, cherries, whortleberries,
peaches, plums, grapes, pears and
apples, each possessing individual
claims to beauty and lusciousness,
follow each other in rapid success
sion, and render the basket of
fruit" an agreeable possibility, APP
pealing to the eye as well as to the
palate; during the warm weather,
at any rate, it should become an
established institution on every ta-
BILE, dispensing if necessary with
less digestible food. Perhaps, if
greater heed were paid to these
things, and the supplying of health
full food made Il matter of more
careful study, we would not so of
ten see persons in middle age.
striving by the use of powders anc
potions, to remedy ills, consequenr
on errors of diet in early youth.
1t is fashionable, and therefore
considered eminently wholesome t.
preface the morning meal Will
fruit, and while oranges, nutmes
melons, "a dish of berries, or
basket of peaches are desirable fea
lures Of "a summer breakfast, som,
tastes prefer to first satisfy the ap
petite with more substantial viands
Good sense will dictate the follow
ing of taste rather than custom. IAN,
what agrees best with health shout,
be the guide above all others.
Many persons who experience IL
i'll consequences from eating frui
in the early part of the day, SUITE
sew rely if they partake of it late
than noon, while others eat it Il
any and all hours with IMMUNITY
Wise people tell us the "~digestiv
powers grow weaker as the day dc
clines, and that fruit instead c
digesting, decomposes, owing t
the presence of the ~saccarine mat
ter" To uphold them in thi
theory they quote the old adag
which sur us that fruit is ''goI
in the morning, silver at noon an
lead at night" Attention to TIL
theory will not, however, Danish
from the noon meal, and each fru.
in its season, will furnish not onl
a cheap, but elegant dessert, an