New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-24
FRUIT ~ ITALY.

(OyrespOndence II The Cincinnati COnmIrciGL
We have fruit upon the table at every meal ex-
cept breakfast, Just when want it most The
markets pretty picture a. you would see.
with the heaps AMI baskets OF handsome. shining
fruit Vast quantities of grapes raised for eat
Ing purposes. tar more than with US. Several kinds
of the grapes for table OF pale, translucent
green color very tender and PUPPY. They are
called white grapes They are not particularly
sweet but have very delicate. slightly tart flavor,
which makes them peculiarly grateful 10 the taste
III the broillng hot weather They cord undOuDt-
edly be cultivated extensively IN tie southern
States of our own country, and ought TO be. We
have also seen some apples here and th-re but a.
far ~ they have come under our notice neither
the Italian apples nor peaches are as me as our
own. owes grow IN every part OF Italy that No
have seen, which includes every portion except
the sou heastcTn.
The olive orchards here frequently cover tho
sides of the Appenne Mountains quite 10 the top.
Thousands or acres are devoted to olive culture.
When used 10 read in the Bible about the people
who ate bread. wine aud olives, we always sup
posed, yOu remember that an olive was iruit 10
be eaten ripe, like peach or an orange. IL seems
necessary TO reconstruct our BiDie bellei III thlS
respect. They tel US here that an olive l. fruit
which must never be eaten raw that IN that state
II Is a bitter, burning acid tasting thing which a
goat itself would refuse TO take down. IL Is prod
net to be picked and thea eaten, usually with
bread In the picked state those who are accus-
toned TO eating it IN rs native state say II Is deli
ciOus. There are various WAYS OF preserving the
olive IL is chiefly raised, no viewer FOR the oil, on
which, it Is said. great profit Is made. There
seems to be no good reason VIII, It could not be
cultivated successfully ia Florida sud perhaps IN
other parts of the Southern United states. In app
peaTance the olive tree is about the size and shape
OF ordinary peach tree, with gnarled trunk.
IT'S Leaf is the shape OF peach Leaf, but small.
harsh and stiff The color OF the foaLe IS pale.
dull green, like that OF a sage bush, the true
aesthetic shade.
We have had varied experience in eating fresh
lgs. There are. several varieties. OF different
coOr5 when ripe We have eaten small green ones
and large purple ones Readers who are fortunate
enough 10 have spent their childhood in the coun-
try will remember the little woods fruit We used
to call May apple Well fresh Italian ng
tastes ike that The rnd is bitter aud irritating,
and must be peeled of. Fig trees grow TO great
sZe
italian watermelous are good like those
dear TO the soul of the cOlOred brother IN August
days. But the muskmelOns taste 10 Us Americans
Ike a pumpkin. There was one fruit No
could not possibly make out for week or two. 10
was Ike plum, and then, again. IL wasn't. 1t
was yellow inside and smooth shining ana yellow,
with a brilliant red cheek upOn the outside. 10
was tougher and drs than peach. aud yet tasted
like one, and was on the whole good. and interest
in the subject high. We took sides and bad
discussions We bet bottles Of wine on n. Was
il peach plum or apricOti At last we found sol
enn old Italian waiter VINO knew enough English
to solve this important question. lie said tho
ny sterous fruit was called the nut peach. Dd no
maze tie name out of his own head ldont know.