794 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Mat 1, 1899. 
NUTS AS FOOD IN FRANCE. 
Through tlie centre of France, from the Bay of Bis- 
cay to Switzerland, iheroare large plantatiouf, almost 
forests, of chestnut trees. The poor people through 
the autumn and winter, often make two meals daily 
from chestnuts. The ordinary way of cooking them is 
to reuicvo outside shell and blanch them. The blanch- 
ing is done by tlirov/ing the nuts iato boiling water, 
and with a briquette rubbing them around the kettle 
until the inside skin psels off. The hi iquetle is com- 
posed of two square pieces of wood, 24 to 3(; inches 
long, the angles of which are notched about one foot 
Tip ; they are joined like shears with a rivet. After 
the blanching process, a wet cloth is placed in an 
earthen pot, which is almost filled with raw chestnuts ; 
they are covered with a second wet cloth, and put on 
the fire to steam. They are eaten with salt and milk. 
Hot r^teamed chestnuts are carried round the city 
streets in baskets or pails ; the majority of the work- 
ing people, who usually have no fire early iu the morn- 
ing, eat them for their breakfaat, with or without milk. 
These nuts are often used as a vegetable, and are 
exceedingly popular, being found on the tables of the 
Well to do and wealthy. They are served not only 
boiled, but roasted, steamed, pured, ond as dressings 
for poultry or meats. Cliestnuts are made into bread 
by the insuntaiii peasantry. After the nuts have been 
blanched they are drie.i and ground. From this flour 
a sweet, heavy fiat cake is made. It resembles the 
oaten cakes so popular omoug Scotch peasants. The 
United States cominercial ;igcnt at Limoges says 
that vthen these nuts are stored they arc very apt to 
heat and ferment, and ereat care must be taken to 
prevent this : they are placed in cool, airy bins, so 
that the air can readily pass through the pile and 
perfect ventilation be obtained. The walnut tree is 
very generally grown all over France, but more es- 
pecially in the central and eastern departments. Wal- 
nuts, as an article of food, are losing ground in France 
because of their scarcity. The trees have been in great 
demand for timber and furniture-making : neverthe- 
less there are certain sections of the country in which 
these nuts form a regular article of diet. The peas- 
ants eat them with bread that has oftentimes been 
rubbed with garlic. The hygienic effects are con- 
sidered good, replacing meat to a large extent. These 
nuts are aho used to make oil. It is mach cheaper, 
and similar in taste to that pressed in olives, and is 
employed to adulterate the latter. The prisoners in 
certain prisons src, says the commercial agent, en- 
gaged in cracking walnuts and picking out the kernels, 
which are pressed into oil. Almonds are largely ex- 
ported from France. The climate of the middle and 
southern departments of the country are most favour- 
ably adapted to the growth of this fruit. In the 
summer, the almond, while the shell and husk are 
soft, green and tender, is sold by the dozen or hundred 
in the markets, at from one farthing to two pence half- 
penny per dozen, according to the condition of the 
crop. The meat is white and creamy. As an article 
of food they are not used as extensively as chestnuts 
and walnuts. Almond oil is employed for various 
purposes. Apricot stones are often ground with al- 
monds to adulterate the oil. Confectioner's and bakers 
consume large quantities of these nuts in making dif- 
ferent kinds of cakes and sweetmeats. Hazelnut trees 
are only grown for their fruit, and although they will 
flourish in nearly all the departments, the nuts are con- 
sidered a luxury, and are always high-prized. Hazel- 
nuts are eaten green, like almonds, in the summer, 
when they are sold at more reasonable rates. Ths 
exportation from France is unimportant. The pea- 
nut ao common iu the United States, is very rarely 
eaten roasted iu France, and nearly all that enter the 
ports are imported from Spain, Italy and Africa. The 
variety is small and uninviting, and very high in price. 
The taste for these nuts, as a food, is said to be grow- 
ing. Many tons of pea-nuts are imported from the 
west coast of Africa, India and the Malayan Archi- 
palago, and are sold in Marseilles and other centres. 
These are principally bought for the oil which is 
fxtracted from them. Pea-nut oil is used for cooking 
purposes, and as an adulterant and snbstitnte for olive 
oil. Many physicians in different parts of Europe 
have been making experiments as to the nutritive 
and medicinal qualities of all kii ds of nut?, and bava 
advanced views favouring their use as feed, under 
certain conditions, for special diseases. Nuts contain 
a special kind iA salt, especially adopted for lubrica- 
ting and softening the muscles. Some practitioners 
claim that elderly people would be benefited by a 
more extensive nut diet. The only evil to be over- 
come is that the nnts should be thoroughly masti- 
cated.— Journa/ of the Soeiety of Arts, Mar. 24. 
TKAVANCORE TEA SAL 
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SALE OF A COFFEE ESTATE IN THE 
WYNAAD. 
On Tuesday, May 16th, Messrs. Oakes &Co., 
Limited, will sell by public auction at the 
Exchange Hall. Bi'oadway, Madi'as, AVood- 
lands estate, a valuable coflEee estate -free from 
encumbrance situated at Kulpetta in the 
Wynaads, Southei'n India. 
