The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-05-31
A Popular Food Plant.

What great discovery the tomato
was as an article of food. While most
food plants are of comparatively ancient
origin, there are plenty of people living
today who can remember when it was
only an ornament cultivated for the
beauty of its dainty blossoms and hand
some fruit. While its beauty was adj
mired, it was considered like the poison
GUS oak, dangerous to even handle ex-
cept by dark complicated" persons.
Years of acquaintanceship, however,
wore off its superstition and few
'fool-hardy'' actually owned up to hay
ing tasted the fruits
From this small beginning has grad
ually grown a use that makes today an
industry with a combined capital of
over thirty millions Of dollars, which
disburses millions of dollars to its en-
ployees each year and aggregates an
output of two hundred and forty millions
cans. This product goes into every
household in the land and is as familiar
an article of diet as any other Of the
staple products of the soil. Each3 year
sees an increasing consumption and the
more intimate the acquaintance the
greater the use.
The reason for this is very obvious.
There is no better appetizer and as an
article Of seasoning the tomato imparts
taste that cannot be initiated. 1t is
so distinctive that its presence can be
located even in minute particles, yet
the pungency has everything that de-
lights the palate and nothing that Of
tends the nostril
The growth Of its general popularity
dates back to the time Of the first sue
cessful packing houses. When the use
of the tomato asa food was established,
demand made it necessary to have a
! cheaper price than the local market
gardener could afford, and to meet this
the tin can as a diminisher of space
was called into requisition. 1t was
found much cheaper proportionately to
raise one thousand bushels than ten or
so by the aid of the tin and cooked pro-
duct could be placed on the consumers
table at price so reasonable as to en-
able daily use. Moreover, the article
put in the can is brought fresh picked
from the field, Theoretically sealed and
Immediately sterilized by heat, while
the uncanned fruit is frequently shipped
for hundreds of miles before it is used
as food. The artificially ripened fruit
must be gathered green and the red
color it finally assumes is the whitening
of hungry tissues that should have fed
the fruit with the red nourishing Juice
that comes from the soil and by the aid
of Mother Nature is thus transformed.
No preservation is used by the Gamer
as the action of heat insures keeping
for an indefinite time,
There is nothing so healthy as this
rich, ripe fruit dumped out Of the clean
white can ready for use. The taste is
equal to the ripe fruit and every SEM
blance of waste in the shape Of rind or
core has been removed. Eat it?-why
the very sight and smell are irresistible,
and the most insistent appetite ca be
stated because of its absolute harmless
ness. Its healthfulness has never been
attacked and the rich juices colored as
the life giving fluid act as a tonic even
for the invalid stomach. There is no
home where its visits are not welcome,
and the table of either the millionaire
or peasant is alike familiar with its
presence. AS Indian corn, it is distinct
ly Of American origin, and proud indeed
can we be of both of these excellent
| food plants.