Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-07-25
Fruit as a Summer Diet.

Not least among the blessings of en-
larged and rapid transportation is the
abundant supply of cheap and whole
some fruit which is now within the
reach of the poorest families. 1t is not
SO very many years ago that an orange
was considered something of rare
foreign luxury III the families of the
common people," Bananas were SO
unusual sight tnat when lucky ship
stole march on the Southern trades
and got into port with sound cargo it
was something to call crowds of people
to the wharves in the old New England
seaports.
Steam and rail now bring to our mar
kets the fruits and vegetables of the
tropics in good condition and in such
immense quantities that they promise
to become the cheapest Of diet for the
poor. Something of a sad, if not dis
graceful, spectacle was witnessed in New
York last week, when, in order not to
disturb prices and injure grocers and
dealers by glut in the market, 1900
crates OF the choicest Southern fruits
and vegetables were dumped into the
sea off Sandy Hook. Considering the
families who were kept from starvation
in that city last winter through munich
pal aid, and that there is a standing
army there of many thousand hungry
persons, such an act OF commercial ex
pediency is best described as simply
wicked.
Hundreds of people in the great sea-
port towns at this season avoid the
pinch Of hunger by eating now and then
banana, which at the Wharves and in
the fruit cellars can be bought for one
cent, and in Job lots at much less. This
fruit is said 10 have as much nutritive
strength as the potato, and is digesti-
BILE and wholesome. Enough bananas
to keep the deserving poor OF New York
free from actual hunger are regularly
thrown overheard and wasted during
the summer, for when the market
threatens glut, fruit is dumped over
the sides of the vessels with little cere-
mony. Charitable people have some
times suggested that it be distributed
among the poor, but the con ,ignees say
that they do not want to be bothered.
and that giving away fruit is an injury
to dealers.
The peach product this year promises
to be.so prolific, also, as to threaten dis
astrous glut, and precautions have al
ready been taken to steady the market,
one of which is the feeding out OF the
surplus to the hogs. Thus it will come
to pass that many poor child and in
valid will stand gazing W1stfully this
summer at high. piles Of peach crates
while tie surplus production is being
disposed of by Jersey and Delaware
swine.
It has been suggested that charitable
societies should establish a fruit fund,
to be expended during the fruit season
in distributing wholesome diet, such as
bananas. berries and peaches, among
the poor and invalid population. 1t is
most admirable idea. When $4,000
crates OF delicious fruits and vegetables
are thrown into the sea because the
market will not bear them, one need
not be told how few dollars ;udicious-
ly expended would bring joy into hum
dreds of households where fruit is rare
ly or never seen.
Great as is the peril of green fruit, it
is certain that, when properly ripe,
fruit is the most natural and wholesome
summer diet. 1t is becoming cheaper
and better every year, and i'll quantity
the crops are increasingly immense
from all quarters. 1t is reproach to
our trade methods as we'll as to our So
cial arrangements il we can find no bet
ter way to dispose of this annual bounty
of our orchards and our gardens than to
throw the glut-threatening surplus to
the fishes and hogs, while hundreds of
needy and deserving men, women and
children are vainly longing for it.
ROsto1l EZObe