274 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



of wheat ; also in peas, beans, and lentils. Tliese, as I have 

 mentioned, are known as the proteid foods, with the further 

 addition of milk, cheese, fish, and meat. We require only one- 

 fourth part of the proteid elements in arranging a diet, and that 

 man or woman that consumes more food than the body requires 

 to build up and repair its waste, sows the seeds of disease ap- 

 parent in the years to come. 



The eating of meat not only introduces poisonous waste in 

 the human body, but the digested fibre of the meat clogs the 

 blood vessels and by so doing interferes with the circulation of 

 the blood, and the functions of the various organs of the body. 



If all this array of facts is not convincing proof that a vege- 

 table diet is preferable, I wish you one and all would experi- 

 ment with yourselves and judge, by means of such experiments, 

 whether health is not yours for the seeking. I am sure that 

 you will find a trial of a few months convincing proof that 

 better health attends a vegetable diet. Wise mothers will not 

 educate their children to the use of meat, but will give them in- 

 stead nourishing soups of peas and beans and good whole wheat 

 bread. The cracked or whole oat is one of the best of foods for 

 children, as is also corn meal, which can be used in a variety of 

 ways. Time should not be considered as wasted in arranging 

 a diet ; for health, the greatest of earthly blessings, attends 

 well directed efforts in this direction, and a little thought given 

 each day as to what to eat will yield a harvest of blessings. 



Often I have had said to me, " but how shall I find time 

 to arrange a diet adapted to the individual needs of my family ? 

 I haven't time for such, my time is so taken up." Yes, 

 we are a busy people. I never dispute this fact, but are our 

 energies all wisely directed ? Have we not drifted into the habit 

 of doing many senseless things which it would be better if left 

 undone? How about the time spent in concocting various 

 dishes for the table which take so much time and thought in 

 their preparation ? There is scarcely a day of my life but what 

 I am assured by some wife and mother that her family cannot 

 do without pies, cakes, and pastries, to say nothing of salads, 

 mixed pickles, chow chow, etc., that are thought necessary and 

 substantial foods. I invariably ask, are you not to blame for 

 all this? Have you not made the cross that is laid with so 

 heavy a weight across your shoulders? If mothers educate 

 their children with a fondness for such food can they expect 



