150 JOUKNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cases of gout and kidney disease, as the result of waste uric acid in the 

 system. 



Thirdly, that the latest experiments, as, for example, those of Jaffa on 

 the fruitarians of California, and Kumagaiva's experiments on the diet of 

 the Japanese, Chittenden's experiments on sedentary and active workers in 

 America, and my own experiments of this year have proved, I think, con- 

 clusively, that the ordinary proteid ratio is far too high, and may be cut 

 down by 50 per cent, with the greatest advantage so long only as a suf- 

 ficiency of fat is provided. 



Fourthly, that even if the old high ratio were maintained, there is ample 

 store of proteid in certain forms of fruits. If we go to the fruits of the 

 legumes and include beans, peas, lentils, and dahls, we get an immense 

 store of proteid in a most concentrated form, so that the addition of even 

 a small portion of any of these fruits at once brings up the day's rations 

 to a high proteid level. 



In the same way the cerealin of wheat and other cereals gives us the 

 proteid we require in a very delightful and digestible form. 



It is true that I should need to eat four pounds of pears to get as much 

 proteid as is found in one egg, but if I use my pears to obtain the water 

 and the sugar, and take almonds and pistachios or walnuts or peanuts to 

 provide the albumen and the fat, I get a highly scientific combination 

 of complete nutrition. 



I know few combinations in the whole range of foods more perfect 

 than almond meal or w^alnut meal and raisins. The prophet of old who 

 did his forty days' walk on a handful of parched corn and a barley loaf and 

 a cake of figs and a cluster of raisins was a scientific dietist ; and the 

 Japanese, w^ho followed these lines, proved themselves better commissariat 

 officers than the Americans, who fed their soldiers in Cuba on the best 

 Chicago "mysteries." 



Lastly, the Salines. — I can hardly over-estimate the importance of the 

 salines in the human economy. Nerves could not work, teeth could not 

 grow, blood could not circulate, dialysis in digestion and absorption would 

 be impossible without them ; and where do you get the salines from ? 

 The w^orld of fruits. Phosphates of lime in the bones, alkaline phos- 

 phates in the blood, muscle and milk, constantly being excreted and fresh 

 salines constantly being demanded, the fruits become an essential of the 

 human economy. 



Time will not allow me to deal with the other heads that I laid before 

 me — viz. to show the value of fruits as digestants and as preventers of old 

 age by being assistant excretants, and as being actually curative in many 

 forms of disease. 



Let me therefore be satisfied to say that in my opinion — 



First, Englishmen could live in better health and with greater freedom 

 from disease if it were necessary to do so upon fruits and nuts produced 

 in England alone (including the fruits of grasses — e.g. cereals and 

 legumes — under this title). 



Secondly, fresh ripe fruits may be used by young and old alike during 

 the summer, but that juicy fruits should be eaten with a fatty addition — 

 e.g. strawberries and cream, and they should not be used largely in cold 

 weather. 



