Evening star., 1912-11-10

country. 1t win grow in Very few sec
tions, hence its price of necessity will be
high. Then, too, il seems not destined
for kitchen use Cooked in an oven like
a potato it is unpalatable, Instead it
must be plucked green and thrown into
open wood fire 1t must be left in the
fire until the juice has sizz ed out of the
skin, some dripping out, the rest soak
ing into the fruit. Then when the skin
is charred black and crusty the fruit
is taken out OF the fire, broken open and
eaten while hot All save the skin Is
eaten, for, like the potato, it is seedless.
Just as delicate as the breadfruit. but
capable Of being grown anywhere. is the
udo, one of the very newest of Uncle
Sans foods. which possesses all
sorts of nutritive values. and which is
destined to make what is now a table lux
ury dish for every day. 1t is designed
to take the place Of asparagus, deli
cacy which it closely resembles.
Uncle Sam's plant experts base their
belief that udo will replace the older
vegetable on number of facts, all OF
which have been proved. 1t is more pro-
life than asparagus. and grows in any
soil suitable for the latter, and can be
raised with less care. Then its flavor is
said to be more delicate and tasty than
that of the vegetable for which ii is de-
signed as a Substitute. With udo one
eats both the tips and stalk. In the udo
stalk the coarse. tough. unpalatable
stringiness of the asparag gus does not
exist. Instead. it is soft spongy mass
which, strangely enough, tastes rather
different from tae tips, but yet is quite
delicious.
There are anv number of WAYS of cook
ing udo. Ii may be boiled or creamed
and served on toast. or prepared in any
one of the number of ways common with
asparagus In addition it may be pre-
pared in another way which with as
paragus is impossble-it may be served
raw a salad Raw udo and lettuce
with some sort of dressing has been
served a a number of exclusive clubs.
at first more or less as an experiment.
and then a delicacy which brought
quick demand 1t is also possible to have
udo served twice at the same meal. pre-
pared in different ways. The stalks may
be cooked as a vegetable and the tips
served raw. The single vegetable Will
have the appearance and taste of two
an advantage which the economical house,
wife cannot afford to overlook.
Uncle Sam is now conducting a cam
paign in behalf of udo with hotel and
restaurant proprietors throughout the
country, in an effort to get them to place
it on their menus. Plants are also be-
ding sent broadcast through the land to
farmers. with instructions as to planting
and raising, and is the case with the
dasheen. a giant advertising campaign is
being planned to persuade the general
pubic to give the new vegetable a trial
Since ii Is more tasty and can be eaten
raw or cooked, since stalks edible
well tips and since being more pro-
life, it will be cheaper than asparagus.
Uncle Sam is certain that his new dish
will soon become a kitchen staple
In addition to the foregoing the bureau
of plant industry is now experimenting
with several hundred other new vegeta-
bles and fruits.
Il won't describe them to you.' said
Mr.. Fairchild. for as yet We have not
progressed far enough with them to be
able 10 say that they are practicable for
this country. These l have mentioned
haze all been tested. and are only watt
ing for the public To grow familiar with
them. If the public will create demand
the government viii to IL that there
is ample supply Also of those we are
now experimenting with. il is probable
that at least fair percentage will prove
useful, too. Altogether. it is not at all
improbable that grandchildren may
ook back at the foods which go to make
up the bill of fare of today and speak OF
our tastes are most peculiar