Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-26
The Haskin Letter So ' : asssa
WHEN A FRUIT Is A VEGETABLE

baked or boiled or forming a basis of
soup, they are used as a vegetable az
well when ripe as when green. This Is
the principal use to which they are
put"
The watermelon ease was argued a
few years later along similar lines.
Watermelons were being shipped up
from Mexico to Arizona. As green
fruits were on the free list in the tariff
schedule the dealers went to law to
prove that a watermelon is a green
fruit. This time restaurant menus
were brought into court to show that
hotels classify watermelon among fruits
and desserts. The main argument
against the watermelon as a fruit was
that the seeds are commonly listed
among vegetable seeds. Yet the water
melon is sold by dealers as a fruit.
The court made the obvious decision.
IF dessert is the key word, it might
logically be asked whether pumpkins
are not fruit. They are certainly used
to a great extent in pie, which is GER
tainly a dessert. The department OF
agriculture merely smiles at this sug-
gestion. Pie, pickles and preserves
are manufactured products, it seems
and it would be ~impracticable to re-
classify an agricultural product on the
basis of what can be manufactured
from 1t.
Now Comes the Avocado
Perhaps the latest controversy or
this subject occurred over the avocado
Because the avocado is called the ALI
gator pear in this country there was
| an argument as to whether it should
/ come under the paragraph in tariff Law
providing a certain rate for pears. II
was finally decided that it is a mis-.
homer to call the avocado a pear.
1t was further brought out that
while this tropical fruit may be eater
as fruit. it is rarely used as a dessert
In this country it is almost invariabl,
served as a salad, and some authori
ties specifically mention salad as
! basic part of a meal, which would seen
TO make the alligator pear a vegetable
But no; it was assigned to the genera
section of the tariff Law fixing the rat
on fruits in the natural state no
otherwise provided for"
A tariff act generally mentions speci
fically the most common fruits ant
vegetables and fixes a rate on each
The rest are bulked together in sew
eral paragraphs. One sets the rate OF
vegetables in their natural state Ant
not specially provided for" Anothe
paragraph may state the rate on "vege
tables if cut, sliced. or otherwise re
duced in size, or if parched or roasted
or if picked or packed in salt, brine
oil. or prepared or preserved in an.
other way and not specially provides
for"
Where trouble has occurred 1t is i
interpreting the law. One Judge point
ed out that the court must try to de
termine what congress had in min
when it said green fruits.
In the future if there are any con
troversies they may be expected I
arise over new or unusual product
such as the avocado. The tomato an
its garden associates will probably sta
classified-but only so far as this coun
try is concerned. II you go abroa
you may find different ideas regard
ing vegetables and fruits prevailing.
At the last Paris exposition straw
berries and pineapples were locate
among the vegetables. in accordanc
with the practice in France. II is tn
custom there IN judge these product
with the vegetables. mainly becaus
they were grown in the same gardens,