Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20

Dei VI iOCOS II deEflduQS.
Thus spoke Rochefoucauld.
that mine of practical
philosophy And in support of the great
Frenchman's epigram, Prof. AggassiZ.
greatest of American naturalists declar-
ed that modern man. to achieve the best
results within him. both physical and in
teliectual. should completely change his
accustomed articles of diet once every
three weeks
mat the man of today has instinctively
followed these laws Of racial improve
ment is evidenced by the family table.
laden. despite the 'high-living bugaboo.
with variety OF savory and nutritious
articles OF food that would make the ban
duet OF king of the middle ages seem
like prison diet For that medieval
King hadn't vegetable in his pantry.
The peasantry of that day ate herbs:
out they ate them raw like the beasts
Ireen peas. buttered parsnips. even the
bean. baked or otherwise were unknown
to western Europe of the thirteenth CEN
fury - gone 500 years before with the
wreck Of the Roman empire-and that
sturdy standby the Irish potato. was to
lie buried for yet 200 years in the noun
tafns or Peru Bread and beef, with &C.
casfonal pig or venison. when ROYALTY
visited. completed the menu of the me-
dieval monarch-a1d he had all there
was that was good to eat
With civilization. man extended his hill,
OF fare: and. as meat was limited :, va
riety. he turned to the vegetable world
Every vegetable
old adaee. And man today is st,u learn
ing that certain plants he has for ages
looked upon as weeds are, in fact. most
succu1ent and nutritious articles Of food
Realizing this. the Department of Agri-
culture has. during the last decade ad-
dressed itself IN the irvestiga ton and OK
plotation for food purposes both the So
called weeds native to the United States
and the plants Of forai"r countries used
for food by their Inhabitants
Turning first to the plants of the
United States. which. though classed by
the majority Of people as useless weeds
have. nevertheless. according to the gov
eminent experts. a high food value. it is
found that most of them belong to the
class Of vegetables known In the kitchen
as "potherhs'' or greens" suitable for
boiling with meat rich in fat. They
nearly all resemble the cabbage in the
method Of preparing and serving being
placed in 2 boiling utensil with a hunk
Of meat. preferably q cut from the fat
nortion of the hog.
According to dietetic expert, this com
bination OF potherbs with a modicum of
r'ch fat forms an deal ration for the
man who has to labor with his muscles
FOR eight or ten hours a day. The meat
furnishes the protein. which is the en-
ergizing factor. while the potherbs. or So
called weeds. furnish the carbohydrates
Most OF these weeds, that ought to be
classed as vegetables. have their season
in the spring According to the best
medical opinion. they thus perform
dual function: for all of them. In addi-
lion to the nutritive qualities thew nos.
sess, are in a mild degree medicinal in
Effect clearing from the blood and .is
sues the stagnant humors OF the winter
season.
Chief among the edible weeds Of the
eastern portion OF the United States is
the dandeIion. This plant fourishes
throughout the region between Canada
and the gulf states. and IS everywhere
used by the people in the country &c n
potherb. II is hardly necessary to de-
scribe weed so common further than
10 Identify IL by reference TO the nrett
little yellow blossom that it puts forth
resembling a miniature sunfower IN.
edible portion or the plant are the leave.
which grow close to the ground raraIv
extending more than an inch in beioht
The plant is, when fully grown. about
six or eight inches in width measurina
across the breadth of the leaves wbic6
have a notched or serrated Appearance
and. before they are plucked are az
crisp as fresh lettuce. They ranidIv
wither, however. when separated from
the root.
The blossom. which rises above the
plant on a hollow stem to the height of
from one to six inches. develops. at
seed-t time, into the delicate little blow
ball. so beloved by children. While the
leaves of the dandelion are always nu-
tritious, they acquire bitter flavor as
they approach maturity. Hence. the best
leaves for edible purposes are the young
sprouts that shoot forth in early spring.
The bitter flavor of the older leaves may
be avoided. however. by soihng in two
waters.
Although the dandelion is a most popu-
lar green throughout the country. no
attempt has ever been made here to Gull
tivate 1t. In France however especially
ia Paris. II Is now grown as a vegetable.
tahing rank along with lettuce. and being