154 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
FilESH AUB BKIED FRUITS ARB VEGETABLES. 
The relative value of fresh, undried fruitsand vegetables 
and those which have been dried to prevent decay, is a 
matter of some importance. In an article headed “Fruit 
better than Physic,” copied into our last issue, from the 
Valley Farmer, the writer says : “The old fashioned mode 
of preserving [by drying] will not answer; the nature 
and constitution of the fruits are changed by the process, 
and all their anti-scorbutic virtues destroyed. The fruits 
must be fresh.” 
If this statement were true, dried fruits of all kinds 
would be nearly valueless; but it is not true; and there- 
fore, well dried, ripe peaches, pears, apples, plums, cher- 
ries, grapes, figs, strawberries, and otlter delicious fruits, 
are worth to the public far more than it costs to preserve 
them in this way for future use. If wisely and properly 
conducted, drying changes very slightly, or not at all, the 
saccharine and acid compounds in the most delicate fruits. 
Their aroma and iiavor may suffer, while their prophylac- 
tic, and nutritive properties are rather concetitrated than 
dissipated, by desiccation. 
The best way to remove the surplus water in fruits and 
vegetables, whose presence, by giving freedom of motion 
to the chemical elements in these organized substances, 
favors their rotting, is a question to which the writer has 
paid much attention. In putting up garden vegetables in 
France for the consumption of its army in the Crimea, the 
water is removed by great pressure. Some of the nutri- 
tive elements in cabbage, beets, turnips and potatoes, are 
lost in this process, whether cooked or not, yet concen- 
tration, to favor distant transportation, is attained. Upon 
the whole, we doubt wlietiier ilie practice has any advan- 
tage over heat-drying. At all event.s, sooner than lose, 
as many did last year, a fair crop of Irish potatoes by pre- 
mature decay, we shall try drying them cut into slices 
like peaches and apples. Sweet potatoes have rotted bad- 
ly in this neighborhood within the last few months. Is 
the vital principle in bulbous roots and tubers necessarily 
destroyed by drying any more than that in the seeds of 
grain and orcltard fruits'? 
It is known tliat some bulbs and tubers revive and grow 
after having been dried. Is the list exhausted ? 
It is for eating rather than for seed, that fruits and veget- 
ables ought to be dried in the most economical and thor- 
ough manner. In a small way for home consumption, 
the best collection that we have lately seen was put up by 
Mrs. R. Peters, of Atlanta. It embraced sweet corn, 
Lima beans, okra, tomatoes and other vegetables, and 
fruits preserved in the usual way — in sugar, brandy, and 
vinegar, nicely sealed to exclude all atmospheric air. 
English marrowfat peas and others, dried like sv/eet corn, 
make an excellent winter dish. 
The plan recommended by Mr. Nelson, of keeping- 
snap beans in salt, is worthy of more extended practice — 
the samples sent us having proved excellent in all re- 
spects. 
Recipes for keeping all perishable commodities, sent to 
the CvUivaior, are always thankfully received and publish- 
ed. Fruits and vegetables are doubtless better, so far as 
the preservation of their volatile piincipies is concemed, 
if dried in the shade than when dried in the sun. The di- 
rect rays of the sun, which change potatoes to a green 
color and induce many other changes, are powerful 
chemical agents. A good drying-house is the true place 
for all such operations. Make the air in it as dry and cool 
as will attain your object. Too much heat favors chemical 
action, and the formation of new compounds in fruiL 
L 
— • 
NEW BOOKS. 
Gardening for the South : — By William N. Whitf., of 
Athens, Ga : C. M. Saxton & Co., New York, pub- 
lishers. 
A reliable manual of Gardening, adapted to the climate, 
soil and general wants of the South, is greatly needed for 
every day reference by the public. Horticulture has its 
doubts, its difficulties, and its vexations to contend with, 
not less than agriculture ; and it equally needs the assist- 
ance and experience of many skiiUul men whose time 
and talents have been devoted to the cultivation of this 
department of useful knowledge. To bring the most im- 
portant observations of a large number of gardeners and 
fruit growers, scattered through many volumes, into cne, 
and arrange that systematically lor easy reference, is an 
undertaking that demands industry to read much, sound 
judgment and professional acuteness, not to mislead by 
ialse theories and erroneous practice, and thus unwitting- 
ly mingle largely the seed of ignorance with the fruit of 
v.'isdom. 
So fi:ir as we have found time to examine this book of 
100 v/ell filled pages, on “Gardening for the South,” it is 
'■haractcrized by research, discrimination, and an inti- 
mate acquaintance with most of the numerous topics 
discussed. The work is more practical than scientific; 
although the analysis of the ash, or earthy part, of most 
garden fruits and vegetaldes is given, with the authorities 
for the same. In future editions, the author will be able to 
improve and extend his exposition of certain branches of 
horticultural art and science, which deserve farther illus- 
tration. The fieki is wide ; and the labor of no one maa 
is equal to the thorough culture of so much ground* 
Hence, an author of sound common-sense will not at- 
tempt fine writing on many subjects, nor claim vast per- 
sonal experience, but give his readers a true statement 
what is now known, and suggest, if he pleases, what iA 
probably knowledge in horticultural affairs. 
Mr. White appears to have adopted this view of utiljt|r 
in authorship, and we hazard nothing in predicting alarg». 
sale of his truly valuable work to a di.scriminating public*, 
We may find time to furnish a more extended notice of 
ibis valuable work hereafier. It may be obtained either 
from the author or publisher. See our advertisingcolumas. 
l.NSTRUCTIONS FOR THE AnaI.YSIS OF SotLS, LiMESTONES, 
and Manures. By James F. W, Jounston. 
.Few chemists in any country have had so much prac- 
tice in the analysis of soils, limestones atul manures as the 
late Professor Joh.vston, of England; ami scientific agri- 
culture is greatly indebted to his well-directed labors for 
