Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-09-11

show almost at once through the skin.
| The eyes should be clear and void OF
any fulness. there should be no indica-
ton in the throat that the blood has
clogged, and the sides under the wings
should be the same color as the breast.
for il they look sort Of dark 1t is an in
dication that the liver and gall are be-
ginning to spoil. The flesh should be
firm to the touch: If it ruffs up. you
may be sure the fowl is cid.
These same tests may be applied to
turkey, ducks and ali poultry and
game.
THE best plan to follow in purchas-
ing sea foods is to buy them alive if
possible" said a large dealer i'm this
line. Always get crabs and Holsters
while they live. and all other fish too.
If convenient, though this on ice make
quite as good eating. unless kept too
long.
Never take a fish il the eyes are
cloudy. and always examine the gills.
They should be reddish color unless
they have been packed in ice. which
turns them to a kind CT gray white.
The gills in the mackeral however. are
never red; they are the same shade as
the fish.
Another test is in the frmness OF
the flesh. Some might not agree with
me about cells. but l would never buy
one unless the flesh was blue.
You know the old saying IF the
mouth of clam or oyster is open. they
are dead and should not be eaten and
| always follow that test in buying
them.a 1ttbs shell SOUNDS hollow when
1t is hit ten chances to one the meat in
side is bad.
"A large shell does not necessarily
mean big clam or oyster, but if they
are heavy, whether large or small. you
are pretty safe. in taking them. to find
good eating when they are taken out.
II believe in feeling all vegetables to
detect soft spots. for you can't always
tell how fresh they are by the color; that
occasionally stays the same for three
or four days" remarked a wholesale
vegetable dealer.
Take handful of light green fresh
looking peas in your hand and squeeze
there. If they have just been picked
they will make a squeeky noise that is
| easily distinguished from the dull rub
made by the old ones. The pods when
round are usually filled with well
| developed peas. unlike the half grown
| ones found in the fiat hulls.
"If string beans break with a snap
and there is no thread running through
them they are young. Lima beans
should have dark green pods. When
| they begin to get old the color grows
| lighter.
with potatoes both white and sweet
should always get round. medium
sized ones. for they are usually better
| to cat than the great big kinds. and are
| less likely to have hollow hearts and
| specks.
Don't buy them unless they are firm
| and hard, and select the varieties that
| have the fewest eyes little holes in
which the roots once grew II possible.
| cut a potato in two and If 1t is in per-
| feet condition the two pieces will stick
| together. because of the starchy sub
| stance it contains. If the outside
| leaves of cabbage and lettuce plants
| are good green and look fresh you
| may be quite sure that the inner ones
| are the same way.
This season of the year it is difficult
| to get good oranges. lemons. apples. &C.
but IL you can't buy the best quality
| don't purchase an orange that feels
| soft or has yellow, mushy spots. for 1t
will either be spoiled or very dry. and
almost without Juice. The peel should
be oily with a bright color. 1t should
have a pungent odor be hard and firm
| though not tough, and the ends should
be firm and without specks.
| Lemons may be tried In practically
the same way, though some persons be-
lieve the best proof is to roll them on a
bad surface, and that IL they get soft
in few minutes they have plenty OF
| juice and are good.
Never buy q banana with a torn
peel. and prefer them free from any
black spots. though that Is matter OF
| taste.
IF possible always buy a deep green
watermelon. for the dark rind Is sup
posed to indicate that 1t is thoroughly
ripe andshas a very red heart Test 1t
by cutting a small piece from the very
| centre If convenient. If merchant re-
fuses to have 1t plugged the next best
plan is to thump 1t hard on either end.
| and il it has solid sound the melon
| should be ripe and we'll developed.
With cantaloupe always try the ends to
be sure they are not soft and spongy'
| and II they are firm. and If the rind Is
a good fresh looking green. with no
specks of decay, you are pretty safe In
buying 1T.
"Small fruits, like raspberries. black
berries. &C., should be sound. OF good
color, juicy looking, and feel nrm'
otherwise they are unfit to eat"
------------------- Ia 4
Benjamin F. Hobbs, the Oldest armorer
i,, of he yrff