The evening times., 1900-06-25
FOOD VALUE OF FRUITS.
Fhe Secretary of Agriculture Com
pares Them With Vegetables.

pares Them with Vegetables.
The growing of fruits in the United
States during recent years has assumed
great commercial Importance in many re-
gions, especially in the South and on the
Pacific Coast. There appears but small
doubt that corresponding with this in
crease in the production there has been
a large increase in the amount consumed
in the average household. and greater IA
cilities for shipping and marketing. The
Secretary Of Agriculture. speaking Of the
subject today, said:
THE increased consumption Of fruit has
apparently aroused a somewhat general IN
terest in its food value and many popular
articles on the subject have appeared. some
Of these contain statements which a study
Of the chemical composition of fruits would
hardly warrant.
'-Ssany Of the stations have reported
analyses OF fruits and made extended stu
dies Of the different methods Of growing
fruit trees, their soil requirements, enc
mics etc
The stone fruits constitute an important
group. and have berr studied for a num-
Der Of years by the California and Oregon
stations. Fresh peaches. apricots. cherries.
prunes, and plums are general favOri,es
while enormous quantities Of these fruits
are canned, dried. or preserved in soEie
way Il Is interesting TO compare the
composition of these fruits. fresh and
dried with each other and with some Of
the staple articles Of diet
Apricot pits constitute about 6 per cent
OF the fresh fruit. cherry pits > per cent,
and peach pits II per cent
IA tvar4r4I al ha erfrula fy.rff+e v~Trer,
fresh have a high water content. The
different kinds DO not differ very greatly
ia composition and the variations between
the specimens grown in different regions
are not greater than between different
samples grown ia the same region The
dried fruits contain less water and there
fore have a higher food value than the
fresh fruits. The fresh fruits contain a
much smaller percentage Of uutritiv5 in
gradients than white bread or dried beans
Judged BY their composition they DO not
difier very greatly from potatoes and are
somewhat superior 10 fresh vegetables. L
should be remembered, however that the
nitrogeH-free extract or carbohydrates Of
fruits consist almost entirely Of starch.
The carbohydrates Of fruits consist largely
OF sugar and bodies whose food value is not
well understood. Il has been found In the
dietary studies conducted under the aus
pices OF the Department of Agriculture
that a large consumption Of fruits or fresh
vegetables containing little food material
and high percentage Of water increases
the cost Of a diet out Of proportion 20 the
nutritive material furnished
AS an illustration of this statement the
case Of a skilled workman 5 family IN New
Jersey may be cited. The number Of N =aIs
taken by the different members Ot tlis
family during a dietary study was equiva-
lent 10 one man 127 davs or practice -
four mOunths. During this time S2.I6 va
expended for oranges and 50 for celery.
making total Of S5l6 for these
two articles. which between reem
furnished 80 grains OF protein
During the same time S5I6 was also Cx-
pended for cereal foods and sugars. and
o-a45 grams OF protein and Isl 1S5 calC-
rles Of energy We're obtained or about
twenty-five times the amount furnished b.
the orgauges and celery The amount ex-
pended t0- vegetables and fruits aside from
the oranges and celery amounted T. $50.
aEt furnished 1900 grams Of protein ald
$4,000 calories OF energy. OF. f. rOl-d
numbers. ten times IS much as was OBJ
. tanned L. the oranges and celery.
II must not be forgotten, however. that
fruits are valuable for other reasons than
the nutrients which they furnish They
contain acids and other bodies which are
believed by physiologists 70 have a bers-
ncIal eject on the system and doubles
very often stimulate the appetite Tor OH
er food Taey are also useful in counter
acting tendency 20 constipation An
other poIut-ald one entire apart from
food vGiue-shOuld not be overlooked.
. That is fruits add very materially 10 The
/ attrectiveuess OF the diet. I, is not easy
to estimate their value from this stan Z
point since often the appearance Of fed
/ has value which cannot be measured f.
/ dollars and cents"