St. Landry democrat., 1889-03-23
Figs as Food.
THE MOST NUTRITIOUS OF ALL FRUITS
EXCEPT THE OLIVE


EXCEPT THE OLIVE.
One of the Persian kings caused the
celebrated Attic figs to be set before him
whenever he dined, for one reason to re
mind him that the land where they grew
was not yet his, and that, instead of re-
ceiving the fruit as tribute, he was
obliged to buy it from abroad and for
another, that it was not only the emblem
of health, but tie most wholesome fruit
grown. The fig is now pretty well kno wn
to be, especially at certain seasons, almost
the common food of the Italian people );
and for months they may be said to live
entirely upon it, AS DR. Nichols says, it
is not only possible for man to live upon
figs, but, sitting under his own vine and
fig tree, man has plenty of food and no
landlord. When eaten fresh the fig is a
medicine as well as food and they who
eat freely need no potions and no aperients.
Full of nutrition and all those properties
that make it valuable as an article of diet
we are confident that the fig willotake a
prominent position in the estimation of all
.R2.o work for and believe in food reform
sfFor myself, | would simply add that
again and again, without liquid Of any
kind. the luscious green fig, eaten with
whole meal bread, has formed dish at
once simple but rich, and, like the Span
iard's salad, fit for a king. The fig is not
only very popular, but 1t is the most an
Gent fruit we cultivate. In many coun-
tries the failure of this crop also means
starvation and famine. Travellers in Asia
Minor and southern Europe provide them
selves with figs and olives as provisions
for long journeys, and not only live, but
grow fat on the diet. The fig has
more medicinal prophecies and more nu-
triment than any other fruit with the ex
ception of the olive.-Interi0r
There are but three sugar refneries in
the State and they are located in New Or
leans !; these refine domestic sugars as
long as the supply exists, and then refine
foreign sugars. Capital invested 81 $780,
600. However, there are refneries in the
State known as vacuum pan sugar houses
that turn out sugar of any grade up to
pure white, directly from sugar cane, with
out melting back sugars as is done by lie
fining them. There are about IA of these
The average number of hands directly
employed on the sugar plantations is about
So 900 and as many more are employed in.
directly in making cooperage, machinery,
ETC., and in transporting the crop by steam
boats, railways, etc, and in Graying,
Weighing, gauging, warehousing, etc.,
and so the whole sugar industry employs
at least 100, 900 laborers, and is the chief
support of 100000 people. There are
about 1900 plantations in the State. but
only 1914 sugar houses in operation in 1887
The Democrat Reoieao in its review of
the Cotton Palace, in New Orleans, says {:
"Calcasieu parish has varied and in
structive exhibit consisting of fruits, vege
tables, corn, grain, hay, etc. Preserves
and canned fruits, put up by the ladies of
the parish, grace the shelves. Photo
graphs of scenery on Lake Charles are
shown, which are so picturesque that |
wondered why some of our local artists had
not visited this lovely spot and transferred
to canvass its charming hooks, typical
southern landscapes and water views. l
saw picture of Calcasieu family con-
sisting of father, mother and eleven
healthy, handsome children. The cost in
doctors fees to this family had been ten
dollars since the birth of the first child,
which is certainly a good advertisement
for the health of the parish.