Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-12-24
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.

Correspondence on topics Of interest 70 the adies
u solicited. Address: Editor H0AIAAK1ns'
CoLulN. Oxford Democrat, South Paris, he
Florida, Its Fruits and Future.
Southern summer 10 not 90 much
worse than the short, fierce summer OF
the Northern States; = 10 only that i y Y:
longer. One may bathe 10 the Gulf OF
Mexico, or the Atlantic, at midday and
sail without discomfort. The woods
offer shade and peace, although the
sandy trails are not edifying.
The South 10 out OF sight and ont OF
mind In summer-it 10 only when snows
and blows come that II seems at all al
Turing. However. the spring comes
early and many good times may
be had there. One Of the surprises
In the edible line 10 the profuse crop OF
mulberries. While Northerners are get
ting Florida strawberries, tho mulberries
are falling In pailfuls, strewIng tho
ground with rich, sweet fruit; In fact, 1t
10 fed to the chickens.
Mulberries may be made into jam, or
simply canned; 1t 10 used, with oatmeal
or cream of wheat and such cereals, ct
breakfast, for delicious hot sh0rtcakes,
and pies or tarts, for steamed batter
pudding and baked cup pudding, with
mulberry sauce; or the mulborries may
be put in tho pudding itself like blue
berries or black berries.
In fact, mulberries are much ike
sweet black berries; and because when
ripe they are insipid, many people do
not like them and let them 60 to waste.
II mixed with large proportion OF mul.
berries just turning red, the desired acid
will be given either to shOrtcake or pre-
serves, or to any one of the foregoing
list of ways of serving.
At . recent evening gathering, In
place away from shops and restaurants,
a spread for the guests included fruit
punch of tho combined citrus fruits,
oranges of different favors, lemons,
grapefruit, and plenty OF mulberry
Juice. In the north We would use grape
juice. With plenty Of fine pecans, to
make nut cake, and brown sugar pra.
lines, or penuche. there Ii no lack OF
sweet attractive edibles for young
folks.
A friendly farmer, or Florida "Crack-
er" informs the new corners where to
flnd bee tree, and then after some work
by manly arms . lot of honey Is secured.
or course, the bees have to DO smoked
out with pnnky old wood, and some
swarms are secured In homemade hives
for the new home started In the pine
woods by a clear lake. Much of the
honey will be worthless and full OF bee
bread, but 10 hole of several feet there
is plenty to eat for luncheon and carry
home In pals, to wax thread and irons,
and cover jelly jars, instead OF paraffine,
for long time.
Except at show places like Palm
Beach, 1.-The beautiful flowers and abun
dainty fruited trees are seen growing out
OF sand, wire grass and burrs; they
must be fertilized twice . year. The
owners of orange orchards sometimes &c
to bed hungry, because the trees must
be fed.
The Florida oranges are about gone
by April, but they are at the greatest
perfection of sweetness and full OF juice
toward the last of the season. The
Florida method Of eating them Is to
peel the orange like an apple and eat II
70. A Northern girl who has settled
there says: don't believe can ever
content myself With eating an orange In
the way I used to, peeling 1t all carefully
and eating 1t by sections. peel them
now like an apple, but leave the white
inner skin on, then cot the orange In
halves, and bite out the juice and pulp.
This il not very elegant way OF eating
At the table, but az / eat them out Of
doors from the trees. six or seven at
time, it is the way to enjoy the flavor.
A few orange trees and pecans, q river
where there are fish, a patch for sweet
potatoes and vegetables, some hens, and
good part of the table supply Is readily
procured. Of course pigs range the
woods and these may be used instead OF
Thanksgiving turkey. 1t takes am:
munition 10 bring down game, and
money to buy coffee and clothes. But
ter and milk are luxuries In Florida, for
the poor COWS have to wade out into the
streams to MUNICH the abundant water.
hyacinths that choke the streams,
though here we grow them In our water
kdIuOuo iOt tu0it VtOooohnu eo1 SSAsNse
foliage, supported By air bladders.
There are two sides to every picture;
on the one side are the Msreohal Neil
roses, BY the armful, and oranges galore,
ann waving palms and bananas; on the
other side are bare turpentine forests,
dark streams, sandy wastes, and land
frauds deludipg many struggling set
tier; there are fashionable crowds spend
ing fortunes for winter gaiety, and sat.
Elements that need leaders of different
calibre. With the crowding Of our coun.
try, the food supply needed will induce
thrifty emigrants to settle, or those who
control large areas OF land and much
capital will arrange for such to settle,
upon the sandy stretches along the
Atlantic Coast from New Jersey south
ward to Florida, and farm by intensive
methods.
Pineapplss will grow II only stuck
into the coral rock Of the abundant keys
of the coast of Florida, and with canals
and drainage improvements, facilitating
irrigation, also Florida will come into
prominence, especially after the Panama
Canal is open. The future growth aud
prosperity of all southland IL assured.