Columbus Democrat

THE TOMATO.
We are receiving new evidence of the utility
of this grateful garden vegetable in preserving
health, and in curing indigestions, and diseases
of the liver and lungs. A writer in the Farmers Register, says it has been tried by several persons,
to his knowledge, with decided success. They
were afflicted, says he, with chronic cough, the
primary cause of which, in one case, was
supposed to be diseased liver—in another, diseased lungs. It mitigates, and sometimes effectually checks, a fit of coughing. It was used in a
dried state, with a little sugar mixed with it, to
render it more agreeable to the taste. The writer expresses a conviction, that freely used in July, August and September, it would prove a complete antidote to bilious fever. The tomato, to
have it in early use, should be started with us in
a hot bed; though if raised in abundance it may
be dried, which is our practice, and may be at
command through the year. The mode of drying is as follows: "Full ripe tomatoes are scalded
in hot water, to facilitate the operation of taking
off the skin; when skinned they are well boiled
with a little sugar and salt, but no water, and
then spread in cakes about an eighth of an inch
thick in the sun. They will dry enough in three
or four days to pack away in bags, which should
hang in a dry room." We consider the tomato
and rhubarb the most healthy products of the
garden.
Professor Rafinesque says of the tomato, "It
is everywhere deemed a very healthy vegetable,
and an invaluable article for food."
Prof. Dickson writes—"I think it more wholesome than any other acid sauce."
Prof. Dunglison says—"It may be looked
upon as one of most wholesome and valuable esculents that belong to the vegetable kingdom."