Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-08-18
THE VEGETABLE DISHRAG
By FREDERIo .. HAsKE.

~AsHINGToN d. c., There is a woman
w in Ohio who is earning living by raising
W dish cloths. Not long ago she invested 10
in started growing the luffa plant
fourished easily required but little attention
The experiment such financial success that she
bought more seed, and now she has small farm OF
Iuffa a thick, spongy gourd in great demand
dish cloths bath sponges Last year. she sold
thousand to one garage company alone to be
used in washing muddy automobiles.
The dish cloth is the only which be
of Iuffa gourd. Cut into strips it makes
sort of lace used in the millinery business and
admirably adapted to the making of flower baskets
which there is large market, especially around
Yet spite of it's utilitarian value and the
will grow in almost part Of the United
States few persons engaged in raising it, and this
woman probably would thought of it had
she been in need of outdoor employment because
she had tuberculosis.
There outdoor occupations practicable for
the tuberculosis patient If IL is only driving
chine running a street policing traffic acting
bait in a sightseeing the tubercular is better off
in his native surroundings than those afflicted
who without sufficient funds rush to Colorado and
the southwest where many of them become dependent
charity
There doubt that the climate
tremendous health-giving qualities, it
battle against the disease when accompanied by home
sickness lack of employment and consequent lack of
food Some enterprsing in the ncpient
stage it is found congenal occupation
ing their sojourn the tubercular colonies. number
of women for example have opened outdoor boarding
houses One who Arizona four years
to be cured of tuberculosis lived in tent prepar
ing her own food as best she could. As she
stronger she took couple of boarders. serving the
meals in her small habitat. Gradually fame
of her cooking spread until she has large
accommodating forty boarders with small adjoining
tent containing the kitchen. Here has two oil
stoves, of which is equipped an Oven and
employs Mexican girl help her with the cooking.
Work for the tubercular patient of necessity
be light and of intermittent nature may
discontinue it in of nemorrhage other incapac
ty. The majority of physicians advocate chcken-ras-
ing practical occupation average tubercular
patient requiring little original and mini
mum of physical exertion. The of mixing the
daily food supply setting hens gathering the eggs
and disposing of the young chickens apt make
great demands the vitality The patient should
live in shack tent accessible the open
air than is the shelter of his chickens. many
fresh eggs.
Many poultry establishments originally undertaken
by tuberculars means of bare existence have be-
come prosperous business ventures In Tucson the tu-
bercular poultry raisers formed an association
when holds its meeting in the rooms of the chamber
of commerce. subscribes numerous poultry Journals
and gives advice to beginners. 1t has a monopoly on
the fresh egg and poultry industry of Tucson
Flower raising, too an attractive and remunera-
tive employment for the invalid whose is open
In southern California flower garden
has become institution among tubercuar patients,
who sell flower decorations to the popular
In fact the amateur garden sprngng into existence
all parts of the country, that a new profession
has been createdthat of the garden specialist There
is tremendous popular interest in gardening The
womens clubs taken it up holding regular
classes in which they employ the specialist
and certain towns have established community