ADVANCEMENT OF FKUITS, ETC. 19 



years ago. The Flushing nurseries are also represented in our or- 

 chards, and, quite lately, those of Michigan and Northern Indiana; 

 and, in fact, there is scarce an eastern establishment which has not 

 sent trees to the lake region of Illinois and Wisconsin." 



Similar to those named, is that of most Western States, in the his- 

 toric introduction and origin of fruits. Chance seedlings, of value 

 sufficient to retaining of the original tree, are abundant, while those 

 meriting a first place are rare. The character of "very good" will 

 apply to probably one-tenth of the fruit, while that of " best" will 

 hardly apply to one-thousandth. 



Of the value of fruits as food, of their free use and tendency to 

 health of system arid morality of character, much has been written ; 

 but the following, by Doctor Kennicott, sums up all in few words : 



" The free use of ripe fruits not only prevents disease, but their reg- 

 ulated enjoyment helps to remove that which already exists. All 

 ripe fruits are, also, more 01 less nutritious. Professsor Salisbury 

 has clearly demonstrated that the APPLE is superior to the POTATO, 

 in the principles that go to increase the muscle and the brain of man, 

 and in fattening properties, it is nearly equal, when cooked, for 

 swine, or fed raw to other domestic animals." 



Ripe grapes have cured Epidemic dysentery. Physicians have, 

 occasionally, advised the use of "cooling acid fruits ;" and the ear- 

 liest writers have directed the sugary ones, as " figs," for food in con- 

 valescence. Families, where fruit is most plentiful and good, and 

 prized as an article of daily food, are most free from disease of all 

 kinds, and more especially from fevers and "bowel complaints." 

 Most fruits aid digestion, some directly, some indirectly, and lessen 

 the desire for alcoholic or stimulating drinks. The juicy ones act as 

 " diluents," and all as " diuretics ;" the free acids neutralizing, or 

 rendering soluble the earthy matters in the blood, and carrying them 

 off rapidly through the natural channels. 



