The fruitfulness of the earth stirs every one that at all realizes it to a sense of wonder. Each fruit of plant or tree, when known for what it is, seems one of the greatest of the marvels that so abound among living things. Vegetation has for every season characteristic charm. Springtime brings anew evidences of growth; summer matures; autumn reaps; and winter keeps alive for nature's use what is needed to renew the life of vegetation and sustain that of animals and humanity. Fruits mean more in the life of vegetation than simply supplying refreshment to humanity. But as human foods, it is refreshment that fruits uniquely bring. Some are also distinctly nourishing, as bananas.

Fruits and vegetables are similar in composition, but differ in some very significant respects. Both contain much water, mineral matter, some cellulose, and protein.. (Though most fruits have little more than 1% of protein, this is not an insignificant proportion of their solids; often it is 2% 10%.

Average Composition Of Fresh Fruits

Refuse

AS EATEN

Water

Sweet Fruits

Sugar

Acid

Mineral Salts

Protein

Fat

Fiber

Acid Fruits

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

%

35

75.8

Bananas

21.7

•3

•5

1.3

.6

I.

5

78.4

Plums

20.1

1.

•5

1.

-

-

-

81.9

Huckleberries

16.5

-

•3

.6

•5

-

25

77.4

Grapes

14.5

.6

•5

1.3

1.6

4-3

-

85.3

Pineapples

12.2

•7

•3

4

•3

4

25

84.6

Apples

"•3

•7

•3

.6

•5

1.2

6

85.

Peaches

10.8

5+

.6

•5

•5

-

-

86.3

Blackberries

10.9

.8

•5

1•3

1.

2.5

-

85.

10.

1.5

.6

1.

-

2.9

Raspberries

-

88.9

8.4

2.3

.2

4

.6

1.5

Cranberries

6

90.

6.

1.1

.6

1.

.6

1.4

Strawberries

27

86.9

57

1.4

•5

.8

.2

-

Oranges

30

89.3

4

54

•5

1.

•7

1.1

Lemons

(Constructed from a variety of analyses).