Pears

Pears are almost proverbially believed to be non-keepers. As I write, in the middle of March, I have a small pear ripe, and a large variety, both unnamed, which will not be ready for a month, The pear buyer who can obtain full supplies until Christmas at moderate prices should make a point of obtaining all that he requires of the late keeping varieties, and these include Bergamotte Esperen, Olivier de Serres and Easter Beurre, for dessert, and Catillac, Verulam and Uvedale's St. Germain for stewing. All these varieties will keep until March or April. It is not desirable to buy quantities of early pears, so many of which ripen so rapidly that there is at all times possible loss.

Pears, like all fruits, may be purchased from Covent Garden and other market salesmen, by the basket or sieve, but the practice needs considerable care. Although prices are very much lower than those of the retailer, my own experience is so varied that I cannot recommend it, for the following reasons: there is either short weight or short measure, and sometimes spoiled fruit, and this may be considerable in proportion to the whole. The fruit selected is sometimes not the fruit which is sent. There is delay in expedition and possible overcharge in the freight. Baskets must be paid for on the basis of a return of the money on receipt of the empties, which are frequently long delayed, or perhaps not returned at all.

Soft Fruit

Soft Fruit is much the most unsatisfactory to buy from a market salesman. Before payment for selected lots the fruit should be examined to the bottom of the basket and the basket marked or taken away at once. The buyer of soft fruit should reject any sample that is damaged, discoloured, or decomposing, for it is a danger to health. The seller of abnormally cheap fruit should always be watched; like the costermonger, he is liable to take advantage of the unwary by giving short weight or spoiled fruit. Traders in the best streets who supply the wealthy consumer, to whom money is no object, are better avoided by people with shallow purses. They pay higher rents, rates and taxes, which they are obliged to obtain from their customers for goods which are no better than those which are supplied by more modest competitors.

The Orange

The Orange is not worth the attention of the housekeeper until it is sweet. Jamaicas, which are the first to arrive, are usually too acid for food. Ripe oranges bought by the case of 250 to 400 are very much cheaper than those bought of the retailer, but, as mentioned already, no purchase should be completed until the buyer is certain that they are all sound. I have known a case which was paid for to contain on arrival 200 bad fruits.

The Banana

The Banana is one of the fruits about which the public can make little mistake, whether purchased from the barrow of the coster or of a fruit dealer. When the market is over-supplied the banana may sometimes be purchased at three for a penny; a stock of fruit not over-ripe should then be laid in. Although the small Canary banana possesses the better flavour of the two varieties known in this country, there is no reason to believe that it is more nourishing than the large banana which provides more food for the money.

As Nuts are costly as foods, owing to the great weight of the shell, care must be observed in purchasing samples which are so frequently bad. The walnut is better bought from the "merchant' in the street, who, without a character to recommend him, provides the only assurance of fair treatment in his power, by cracking his nuts. I have found by experience that this nut is most unsatisfactory, for when a large number are bad the cost at 8d. a pound may, and sometimes does, mean that the actual kernel costs 2s. 6d. a pound. The abnormally large walnut is better avoided; it is either too costly or a large proportion is worthless. Brazils have risen in price and should not cost more than 6d. a pound. They are much safer to buy when they are new - an old sample containing a large proportion of bad nuts. Chestnuts are much the cheapest and most satisfactory of all nuts. If two or three when opened are sound, they may be purchased with safety; but they should not cost more in normal times than 3d. a pound. Hazel, Spanish and Almond Nuts are all too expensive as food, judged by their cost and the weight of their kernels.