Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-01-12
Keep Plenty of Fruit.

When prices for fruit, or anything
else, are high, there is a strong tempta
ton to sell off closely, and much incon-
venience and discomfort is often the re.
suit. The first duty which we owe to
ourselves is to provide from our store an
abundance for home consumption. If
there is anything left after that we may
sell it, and should do SO. But while it
is not right to sell off any of our pro-
ducts too closely, perhaps that is not so
much true with respect to anything
raised on the farm as it is with fruit. 1t
is true that we may get along better
without fruit than we can without some
other things; but while we may subsist
on flour, potatoes and pork. and can not
do so on fruit, it is a very poor way of
living. Fruit is not only luxury which
the farmers family should enjoy as full
ly as circumstances will admit of, but in
a certain sense it is necessity. 1t may
be fairly questioned if the human sys-
tenn can be kept in as perfectly healthy
condition without fruit as it can with;
and if it can not, fruit becomes neces-
sity. There can be no doubt that the
majority of US live too constantly upon
a too hearty diet, especially in winter
time, when we have less physical exer-
else. We become accustomed to eating
meat two or three times day, and we
think we can not do without it. The
consumption of hearty food in large
quantities becomes habit with us. 1t
is really surprising how far our eating is
habit. The great majority of people
eat much more than they need and
much more than is good for
them simply because they have
got into the habit of doing so.
Under such circumstances our
aim should be to introduce into our diet
as much of palatable lighter food as we
conveniently can. Fruit is of this char
acter. 1t is palatable, nourishing, and
medicinal; and the apple-the standard
fruit of the FARMS so easily kept and
handled that if we have a sufficient
supply on hand for the wants of the
family, we should steadily resist the
temptation of selling them, even if we
can get a large price.
Fruit too, is an element of sociability
in the farm home, and thst should be
carefully cultivated at all times. The
children are great lovers of apples.
Whoever saw boy or girl that did not
love apples? There may occasionally
be one, but the cases are exceedingly
exceptional. A dish of apples on the
table on a winters evening means a
season of real enjoyment. For the time
the children forget their cares, and lose
their desire to be in ''town," where
there is more excitement. But if they
appreciate these delicacies SO much, how
great must be the want of them! Those
of us who have not had time to grow
orchards to supply US with fruits, know
very well what light and what cheer a
lack of fruit deprives the house of. Those
of US who have no fruit know very well
how to appreciate it, and those of us
who have plenty, or any, should know.
Therefore we say, keep the apples:
Give the family all they want to eat, if
we have enough to supply them. 1t will
pay better in the end than selling them
even for high price will pay. If they
are worth large price to city people,
they are worth large price to Us. Let
Us first take care of ourselves.-W Western
Rural.