Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-08-28


They are baked, roasted,
fried, broiled, and boiled. They
are also dried, evapOrated, dessicat-
ed, smoked, picked, soused, pre-
served, candled and made into jel' !
lies, jams, and marmalades.
Among odd aways of preparing
and preserving them, is one in
which fruit sweetened to taste, is
perforated with a cochineal stick,
then wrapped in water-lily leaf,
and then boiled in syrup. Tue |
heat and moisture transfer the
crimson color of the wood to the
interior flesh, while the lily-leat
stains the exterior a rich green,
and at the same time, penetrates
it to moderate depth, with its
gelatinouS or mucllaginous elements
Fruits thus treated are put in large
lars, and sent over the world. Even
when opened, they resist fermenta-
tion for weeks.
In the use of fruits, the Chinese
do not follow the Portuguese adage
of Golden at morn, silver at noon,
and lead at night but on the con-
trary indulge to an extent that
would astonish a physician of the
old school. 1t is a common sight
in Mongolian home to find the
entire family devouring oranges,
bananas, and sugar-cane, at mid
night. In the main, acid and sub
acid fruits are preferred to all others.
The extreme TO which fruit.cul.
ture is carried on in China is well
exempliGed by the BolO. In a
wild state, the fruit, (which grows
from the trunk, and not from the
limbs of the Bolo tree, is not much
larger than an apple, and in shape,
color, and Interior construction re-
sembles an orange. Cultivation for
centuries has increased it in size
until it weighs from 100 to 200
pounds. AS it buds in the spring,
the fruit farmer builds under and
around it a strong bamboo basket,
which in turn is firmly attached to
the tree trunk. When mature, the
fruit can be easily broken into
spherical sections, similar to an
orange. Its taste is very rich and
sweet, resembling, somewhat, that
of q IIackensack melon. The seeds
are small, almost rudimentary,
and never sprout. The tree is prop
agated by shoots and CRAFTS. The
Bolo exerts q fascination upon the
Chinese small boy, similar to that
fabled to be exercised by the water
melon upon the colored brother.
AS soon as it begins to ripen, guards
are stationed in the orchard, and
there kept until the last globe Is
gathered. The enfant terrible in
the East has one advantage over
his Ethiopian rival. Once picked,
he, or they-as it requires three
BOYS to properly do the business
may carry off the fruit before the
owners eyes. \ queer snperstl'
ton among the farmers forblds re-
capture, or even unkind words to
the malefactors, on pain, 1t is sup
posed, of the blighting of the tree
orchard the next season. The
Bolo sells for from 1000 to 1000
cash, 1000 cash being nearly
equal to sl). 1t is sold to peddlers
and venders, who separate it into
its component sections. These
number from 800 to 600, and are
retailed according to their SIZE
from Eve cash upward. Covered
with leaves, the sections remair
sweet and fresh several days.
Another fruit (now beginning t'
appear in American markets) IS
the Sai.chi. As it grows it is the
size and shape Of a walnut, with
shell thinner than that Of the finest
almond. Within is fresh and lus
cious pulp that may be put half
3 way between Il strawberry and
, raisin. After being gathereu,
I, slowly dies until the pulp resembles
a small date. Thus far only tn
{ dried fruit has been imported. IL
p success, however, indicates that tn
\ fresh fruit would in a short time b
extremely popular. The dried ar
sold in American stores at fort
cents per pound, in Chinese store
at twenty-five, but in Canton AM
/. Hong Kong at five to ten. Sal'ch
has considerable hygienic value
, When fresh its action is similar t
1 that of figs or tamarinds, dried t
| that of prunes. An essential prlI
/. ciple is extracted from it by tn
| Chinese physicians and apotheci
!. ries, and has long been a iavont
v remedy for many complalht'
e XNon0 Nhinfoo i'm the Cook,