The herald., 1894-06-17
THE WILD ORANGE IN DEMAND.
The Grape Fruit the Favorite
OH Swell Tables.
A Lively Demand for the Fruit in
the East.
The Fruit Growers OF California Should
Find 10 . Big, Profitable
Orop-some of
Its Uses.

10 BtoWu TO u very eiBub 0Atoht Al
Southern California, though San Ber-
nardino county had an exhibit of the
fruit at the midwinter fair.
Speaking of it's growing popularity in
the east, the New York World Gays:
The favorite fruit in New York this
season has been by long odds the wild
orange, or grape fruit, az it is common
ly, though curiously called.
Why this latter name should have
been given to it is rather puzzle,
though it has been suggested by the
oldest New York dealer that possibly
the way it clusters on the trees, bending
the boughs at times almost to the
ground, may have imagined it in the
minds Of its growers as resembling
punches of huge golden grapes.
Twenty-Five years ago it was occasion
ally brought to this market from the
Bahama islands, but nobody thought of
eating it, though it was several times
reshipped to Liverpool, where it sold by
the barrel, bringing good price.
1t did not, however, come into gem
eral use in England, and not yet as an
article OF luxurious eating, though its
medicinal properties are known and
occasionally utilized in hospitals.
Within the last three years the wild
orange has been steadily growing in
popular favor throughout America, and
this winter became quite the rage
among the fashionable people. So much
go that not long ago Mrs. Arson Phelps
Stokes, wishing to express her cordial
RENE 10 brance of some courtesy shown
her by an Austrian baron. bought six
cases of grape fruit and shipped them
to his country seat, near Vienna. Many
men who cut down their wild orange
glsdes in Florida 10 years ago now re-
greet it.
The fruit varies considerably in size,
color and quality, the large pale yellow
specimens, with comparatively thin
skins, having the preference. Butsome
counoiseurs contend that the russell
ones are the best. They all grow on the
same tree, and the russell color is pro-
duced, as in the russell apple, by an in
intestinal insect, invisible to the
nude Optic" as they say in Boston,
who have disported over the skin, rem
ders the fruit less pervious to any bane-
full effects from sudden changes in
climate or atmosphere.
In cool, even temperature the bitter
orange retains its freshness for long
time. The market difference between
the yellow and the russell is very
marked, the latter selling from 81 to 50
per case. The number in a case varies
from SO to "A so that, at present prices,
there is comparatively little profit Tor
the other day belepss It was I'D Gf6aI6gasSSN kat
the consignee's at $3.50 case, which
made the average price to the retailer III
cents apiece.
But what is the chief virtue OF the
wild orange? Considering that. when
it first came into our market, 1t was
called on account of it's bitterness "the
forbidden fruit" the query seems
queer one. Some New Yorker OF large
brain, however, discovered several years
ago that it WAS the quickest and surest
cure for big hesd-not the big head OF
vanity, but that which comes from ex-
cessive rotations. The juice OF the grape
fruit in such cases is 10 times better
than "a hair of the dog that bit you"
In fact, the meat sometimes ID almost
magical in the instantaneous transform
alton of the aching head and qualmy
OF serenity.
1t is wonderful allayer Of infsmma-
| ton or infiammatory tendencies; almost
a feprituge if taken before the fever has
become deep seated. There seems to be
a delicate natural quinine in the juice,
and beyond doubt it acts directly on the
| liver, and possesses mild purgstlve prop
critics. Moreover, it is natural COCK
tail. As a morning appetizer II has no
equal, or certainly no superior. Inc
cunning connections of erudite bar
keepers sink into insignificance before It,.
Besides being natural cocktail 1t may
be considered, when served as frult or
dessert dish, in the light OF natura!
marmalade, and many delicious ways OF
preparing it are being invented.
In spite of its inherent medicinal an
tagonism to the cup that brightens today
and darkens tomorrow. fashion has
lately instituted q marriage between
grape fruit and Jamaica rum.
You cut out the core OF large one
from the top, fill it with rum and sugar
and let it stand in the refrigerator for an
hour before eating Another way ia to
cut the fruit in halves laterally, remove
the seeds, and sprinkle with rum and
powdered sugar. A third way, more
delicious still, is to skin the fruit, and,
with a sharp knife, remove the envel'
opes of the pulp, and then pack these
between thin layers OF rum sherbet OF
Roman punch, and serve when sum
GENTLY arctic marriage has been consum-
mated.
But rum to some tastes, though having
the sanction of the ''immorte Daniel. .
is a crude liquor, and the Washington
fashion of serving grape fruit, with the
pulp beaten up in light berry or in 8
medium strong clsret-cold, Of course,
but not frozen-is perhaps more re-
fined way, or one that would commend
itself to the feminine rather than the
masculine taste. This latter dish, which
might be called PURGE OF grape fruit az
vim, is gaining in favor all over the
country.
Grape fruit punch, made with brandy,
lemons, dash OF pineapples, sugar ano
rawberries. the fruit juice and the
brandy bearing to the other Ingredient
the proportion of two thirds to one-third
is an excellent nightcep. 1t is Singh,
lar fact that the grape fruit ia supposed
by some to possess timely quality
that is, to have an awakening, lnvlgor
ating effect In the morning and seoth'
ing influence late at night.
The grape fruit also grows very abun
dainty in China, Malacca, Java, etc.,
where among Europesns it is called thu