Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-17
Farm End ORCHARD.
THE IMPORTANCE OF GRADING FRUITS
FOR LOCAL MARKETS.
The Useful Lemon-Grapes as Food
Why Hens Do Not Lay-Poultry
Items-F4rm Notes.

During the last few years many methods
have been devised for the grading OF fruits,
showing that there is an urgent demand in
this direction. These appliances are of
great assistance in the asserting of certain
fruits as to size, but 1nuch of the work has
yet to be done by hand. Most Of the Cali
fornia fruit shipped East is picked before
ripening and is graded and packed under
The supervision of comparatively few men,
who cannot afford to present their fruit in
any but the best shape and deal otherwise
than honorably with the consuming pub
lie, Our local markets, however, present
somewhat different phase and oftentimes
but little attempt is made in grading or
fairness. The proper grading OF fruit has
much to do with its selling and keeping
qualities. The term grading, as generally
used, IS applied to size alone, but asserting
a to color and ripeness is no less import
ant. Much Of the fruit found in our
home markets is of the most Indifferent
sort aud is packed in a slip-shod, go-as-
shaped peach will detract from a whole
box, no matter how fine the others may
appear One soft apricot packed in box
intended to keep few days may lose you
the profit upon the whole box. One pale
colored orange, though of the requisite
size, will spoil the appearance of a box
when opened to be used A green or soft
strawberry in basket when seen by a
buyer will lead him to believe that there
are others Of the same sort further down in
the basket.
True, it is some trouble to grade your
fruit in this way, and it requires skill and
decision il the packer. 1t should be re-
membered, however, that we are in the
business TO make money and that trouble
must be expected and competent help en-
ployed, II we are to hear the clink of gold
in our pockets. If fruit is properly
graded, facing is honest and legitimate
but only too often is it used as cloak by
which to fitch few cents from the unsus-
pecting public. In some of our markets
you hardly dare buy box of berries or
fruit of any kind without first removing
the top layer to see if the remainder is
trash. This is plain talking to the 'hon-
est farmer" but it is true and the prevail
ence of this evil has many times curtailed
the demand for fruit by disgusting the con.
sumers and has brought disgrace upon
fruit-growers in general. There is but
one way 10 pack fruit proftably and hon
orably, if your reputation is of any value
whatever. Grade it; grade it carefully
for size, color and ripeness. Every right.
minded grower, packer and shipper should
insist upon trio grading and should stamp
all fruit shipped as such, SO that the pur.
chaser may be certain of the quality Of
his purchase. In this way honest grower:
and packers can in a measure protect
themselves and the public against those
who are INSCRIPTIONS and careless in theil
methods California Fruit Grouer.
THE USEFUL LEMON.
In recent article in the Medical Jour.
nal, of New York, upon simple remedies
for stomach troubles, Dr. Agnew expatiates
at length upon the remarkable manifold
use of the lemon as an internal remedy
The number of curative properties that
the lemon has. during the past few years
been found to have is surprisingly large.
Lemonade made from the juice of the
lemon IS one of the best and safest drinks
for any person, whether in health or not
1t is suitable for all stomach diseases, ex-
cellent in sickness, in cases of iaundice
gravel, liver complaint, inflammation Of
the bowels and fevers. 1t is a specific
against worms and skin complaints. The
pippin crushed may be used with sugar
and water and taken as a drink. Lemon
Juice is the best antiscorbutic remedy
known. 1t not only cures the disease, but
prevents it. Sailors make daily use of il
for this purpose. Wewould advise everyone
to rub their gums with lemon juice to keep
them in healthy condition. The hands
arr nails are also kept clean, white, soft
aud supple by the daily use of lemon in
ste d of soap. 1t also prevents chilblains
smon is used in intermittent fevers
mixed with strong, hot, black coffee, with
out sugar. Neuralgia, it is said, may be
cured by rubbing the part affected with a
cut lemon. 1t is valuable also to cut warts
1t will remove dandruff by rubbing the
roots OF the hair with it. II will alleviate
and finally cure coughs and colds, and heal
diseased lungs, if taken hot on going to
bed at night. Its uses are manifold, and
the more We enjoy it internally the better
we shall find ourselves. A doctor in Rome
is trying it experimentally in malaria fe-
will in time supersede quinine
GRAPES AS FOOD
1t is now conceded by scientists and well
informed men in all professions, that as
food for human beings there is nothing in
the vegetable world superior to good varie.
ties of ripe grapes, and they not only give
strength, endurance and viyacity to those
who regard themselves as well, but restore
the sick and debilitated to health, when
eaten freely during the vintage times Of
the year in the vineyards, or fresh from
the city markets. As practical illustra-
ton OF their health-inspiring qualities is
the case Of Mrs. Phoebe Swarthout, who
resides with her son-in-law, j. F. Crosby,
an extensive grape-grower, on Lake Keuka
New York. Mrs. Swarthout was 81 years
old in January last, and now is in good
health end strength, although she sus-
tanned a fracture of the arm three years
ago, and again year later, by being
thrown from carriage, but the broken
arm is as sound as ever Mrs Swarthout
has been grape-eater for years, and is
firm in her belief that she could not live
without them. She begins with the earliest
grapes in August and has eaten an aver
age of two pounds a day during the sea-
son. 1t is also well-established fact in
grape regions, that the large number Of
girls who work among grapes continuously
through the season of picking and ship
ping, which is from September to Deem
Der, or later, gain in flesh from FIVE tc
twenty pounds and many who come from
the city in delicate health, return to then
homes well and strong Vineyards.
xcsrv nun, 1st.N-s M N-pT I Az
One Of the puzzling questions that often
arise in the experiences Of persons raising
fowls Is why their hens are not laying a;
well as neighbor's, who is far more for
tunate 10 the weekly additions made to
his egg basket. From the directions giver
IN poultry Journals and by manufacturers