64 BREAD, BUTTER, ETC. 



BREAD, BUTTER, CHEESE, PICKLES, ETC. 



The undersigned, chairman, by impressment of the Com- 

 mittee on Bread, Butter, &c, takes occasion to append to the 

 list of awards, a few suggestions, derived, in part, from the 

 ladies composing the committee. We found the usual dis- 

 play and variety of bread, all but one specimen of which 

 conformed, so far as could be determined, to the rule, requir- 

 ing the baking to have been done the day previous. This 

 one was, of course, set aside. During our deliberations we 

 learned, incidentally, that other loaves were quite warm when 

 brought in during the forenoon. Not being able to detect 

 the fact, at the time of our examination, we could not act 

 upon it, and can only suggest that if any such should have 

 been awarded a premium, the competitor fairly lies open to 

 the charge of obtaining money under false pretences. 



Ordinary fermented bread, although so very common, is 

 an extremely artificial product. To obtain it, in perfection, 

 requires a combination of knowledge derived from experience 

 and skill, with care and watchfulness, such as almost nobody 

 possesses. This may seem to be an over-statement,- but 

 where is the woman who, in bread making, never has "poor 

 luck," especially when preparing for some special occasion ? 

 The processes and changes involved in the operation are so 

 complex and subtle, that even chemistry, with all its search- 

 ing detail, has not been able to note the transformations that 

 take place, with certainty. 



The simplest form of bread, such as was once universal, 

 and is still, probably, prevalent over the greater part of the 

 earth, is that known as unleavened j a very sweet and pal- 

 atable food, but unsatisfactory in civilized life, because of the 

 lack of teeth, time and muscular power required for its 

 thorough mastication. Man has sought out many inventions, 

 and among the rest was some improved form of bread. He 

 desired a different texture, and, perhaps, a more digestible 

 product Accident, probably, first put him in the way of 



