New-York tribune., 1902-01-06
FOOD HABITS OF PEOPLE
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT TO MAKE
SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF
THE SUBJECT.

r. oroDort;on to general living expenses. such as
clothing housing. etc, the price paid for 1000 oy
the average American is far in excess OF what II
should be This is conceded by most persons who
have made a study OF food and diet as applied TO
the working classes in this country. The topic has
been receiving attention from the Agricultural De
partment a. Washington. and during the coming
year Il is promised that still more systematic and
thorough attempt will be made to collect reliable
data regarding the food habits Of the population
OF the United States.
IN the annual report Of the department for 1901
the Secretary. James Wilson, states that in his
opinion the results Of nutrition Investigations
which have already been made may be applied TO
advantage wherever large number Of persons are
10 be fed on a systematic plan. When it is con-
sidered that in New-York State alone about one
hundred thousand persons Of the dependent and
delinquent classes are maintained annually. and
that for them 100000 IS expended for food. some
idea may be gained OF the vast interest at stake
when the entire country IS taken into account.
During the coming year the work of the depart
meat Will deal particularly with the application in
public Institutions OF the results Of previous nutri
ton Investigations. well with the dietary
studies Of farmers and rural and urban workers.
II addition 10 these subjects attention Will turn to
the living OF residents Of the territories of the
country. Mr.. Wilson says: Now that the govern
mental, commercial and other interests of our peo
pie are so largely concerned with tropical regions
the determination OF the food habits and require
regions become
Z matter OF nlueh importance: The continuance Of
soldiers, sailors and civil officers of the United
States IN such regions would of itself justify the
institution OF investigations TO determine the best
oietaTies for their use while there
Many topics OF interest in the culinary section Of
the household are discussed IN the report. While
Congress has not authorized the Department Of
Agriculture IN any way 10 protect the people OF
this country from frauds in food adulteraton. il
" protecting me healtn OF the people from in
furious substances in imported foods II Is believed
mat at lime not far distant some interesting and
important results VIII be published Of investigations
made during the last year with regard particularly
70 olive oil. preserved meats and wines Few peo-
PIE realize the extent Of food adulteration even
wilson strongly recommends that Congress pass a
pure food law. which shall be comprehensive. At
ttesehJ no eHectVe legal protection exists against
i is interesting to note the extension Of fruit
ralshg IN this country. During 1900 eleven tons Of
smyrna 1gs we're raised IN California and placed
On the market. and tests made by chemists showed
tnat this fruit superior TO that imported from
s sls Orlent Last year, between fifty and seventy
another industry which viii undoubtedly in time
prove Of great commercial value TO the South
SSi-ghents OF date palms from Algeria and the
DoIoers OF the Sahara Desert have been made from
me 70 time, and large per cent Of the plants
are growing vigorously The date palm thrives
pest whore the summers are long and hot and it
IS thought that the alkaline soil of some nortions
~ Ia4iornla ana Arizona may be utilized in that
With the introduction Of ''macaroni'' wheat into
1 s country. and its successful culture it is ex-
roscs3 mar nearly $4,000 expended here yearly for
PTTluct or domestic manufacture.
r--t..e pIoductlon OF several kinds of tea in the
--.eo states Is now established fact and ex-
psrs who have examined the tea raised here nrn
s--ouhce II equal in favor and aroma 10 the hest
ss, rec teas One estate the South during the
sr.lhe United States imports from SO 0lo nm To
'-"'gS1 worth Of tea annually