National Republican., 1880-07-24
what We Pay For and What We Eat-"Dum
TIvitnrs, yfvamus..

TIvnnus, Vfvamus..
To he Editor Of The Nati2aaI Republican:
Sir: Among the pleasures of life those OF
tho table aro not among the least First IN
Importance is good appetito-''hunger is good
sauce"-noxt in order 9good food, and next, to
have 1t properly prepared and served. If the
dcniaens Of our large cities really enjoy their
food, they must be very hungry, hlissluly
ignorant Of tho luxury enjoyed by those who
live in the country aud have their tables sup.
plicd from field and orchard, fresh from ma
turc fully matured and free from the dam.
aing effect of the bad handling of immature
products. common to all our markets
Wi til this introduction come down TO busi-
moss and make some broad statements.
Fiist-Not ten per cent. OF all the melon
family, bought, paid for, and mostly eaten, is
Il to eat.
Second-Ten years ago IL was almost impos
siho to get any green corn in Washington
market lt 10 oat, and sweet corn was out of
the question.
Tiird-Wo now have it in abundance, but
not over ten per ceAt. is fi5 to eat Some is
too old, Others too young others destroyed by
worms, and nearly all Of it damaged by heat
lug and age.
Fourth-SIany of those who have it for sale
lie unblushingly as TO kind and quality.
Fifth-Nono of the vegetable family i'm.
proves by age-ripens after being pulled-and
hence should be eaten within two days as
rule, and then should be carefully handled
now speak of the ordinary immature or green
vegetables. Evon ripe potatoes become in
furious by exposure to the light for few
days.
Sixth--Hundrods of tons of unrpo aud de-
fcGtivo fruits and vegetables are sold and eaten
annually, much of which has lost all its nat
ural flavor aud is positively injurious.
Scventh-rhore is no profit in this ira flc
to buyer or seller, Much Of the labor is lost,
quantity diminished and quality destroyed, 10
say nothing of the impiety engendercd in
those who have been delraudod. Imagine, if
you can, tho grace needed to suppress the pro.
family of u man surrounded by u table full Of
guests, whom, on bi5ectng fine looking
melon, he finds it sp0ngey aud insipid.
Now y few words to those who cater to our
necessities A lrst-Class article in frst.cuss
condition pays better and gives better salts.
faction than al article detective from any cause.
Vegetables should never be handled in sufii
Gicnt bulk to allow fermentation or heating.
This, Of course you all know, but you do not
all heed. Melons never rpon after being
pulled. This 10 true Of tho whole family.
Watermclons pulled ripe aud properly handled
will keep ten days, long enough to transport
to California. | havo kept them well two
and a-half months by maintaining an even
temperature. They never grow better aftcr
being pulled. When pulled green they grow
worsa ut once aud are nevor good.
Other melons, pulled at the proper time,
will be good the second day; on leo tho third
day; but pulled green, they grow worse and
are never At to eat, They should be pulled
daily, if possible, and eaten the next day
There Is TO excuse whatever in bringing un-
ripo watermelons, and if too far away, then it
Is better to omit from your crop the more per-
ishable:
word TO housokccpers: A good article at
fair price is always cheapest. poor article
is dear at any price.
Melons may DO judged by the stems lfthe
stems of watormcl0ns aro dry aud hard, they
are long pulled. If the stems are removed, 1t
is done TO cover this fault and you may DC
cept this conclusion When mature, tue stems
of Inuskmelous crack around the base and
easily break off, in fact, often drop of. Stems
not cracked around the base show that the
melons have been pulled too green, aud arc
never of first quality.
Boy only OF those you know, and mako
thom guarantee the qualty-not merely that
the melon is red or ripe, but that IL is in good
condition for use. 1t is their business 20 fur
nish good article. will agree to show the
board of health hundreds OF tons of stun
which should not be allowed to be sold in our
market, aud to which NO attention is paid.
RUsrlcUS,