142 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



September 2, 1861. 

 Mr. N. H. Gale in the chair. 



UNRIPE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. 



Mr. Steele exhibited specimens of grapes and tomatoes such 

 as are sold in the New York markets, saying that he thouglit the 

 time had arrived when the Farmers' Club should do something 

 to put a stop to the desecration and sacrilege of bringing vege- 

 tables and fruits into the market in an improper state, forcing 

 the residents to eat what they do eat before it is ripe. 



The Chairman. — This is a very important subject. If the club 

 could have such an influence, it would be a saving to the farmer 

 and a saving to the purchaser. For instance, as our farmers are 

 in the habit of taking their potatoes to market, every barrel con- 

 tains from one to two pecks not fit for family use, and which are 

 only thrown away. But if they would keep these out they would 

 not loose more than one barrel in twenty, for they do little more 

 than fill up the interstices between the larger potatoes, and the 

 potatoes would bring from a quarter to half a dollar more per 

 barrel. So the farmer, in keeping out the small potatoes, would 

 receive as much as in putting them in, and would have the small 

 potatoes besides. 



Mr. Adrian Bergen had been astonished that the people of 

 New York would use such fruit and vegetables as are brought to 

 market ; but they would buy them, and how could we prevent 

 it? 



Mr. Robinson said that the small potatoes could be sold sepa- 

 rately, for half price, to bakers for yeast and for bread. As to 

 unripe fruit, not only are fruit and vegetables brought here in 

 an unfit state for human beings to use, but after they are brought 

 they are injured by the manner in Avhich they are kept. Pota- 

 toes, especially, are much injured by exposure to light and air, 

 undergoing that slow but certain process of turning green and 

 becoming unwholesome food. Peaches are brought into the 

 market not merely unripe, but sometimes only half grown ; and 

 two-thirds of the grapes sold here are only fit for hogs to eat. 

 But if the people know no better than to buy them, how can we 

 blame the producer for bringing them? 



Mr. Pardee said that it was a wonder that New York did not 

 sufi"er even more than it does from the use of unripe fruit. Chil- 

 dren will even take the wilted cucumbers that the grocers throw 



