OATMEAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19390, 27 July 1926, Page 6

OATMEAL.

Sir,—lti a lecture on vitamines Mr. F. L. Armitage, as reported in the Herald, said'"Oatmeal, lacking in vitamines, was really a bad food from a health point of view." Now, if that is so, how is it that the Scottish people exhibit such remarkable physical endurance, good health, intellectual prominence and longevity ? In Perthshire there were—6s years ago —farms cn which the workers existed on oatmeal and performed the most arduous duties without showing excessive fatigue. At harvest time especially I have known them to use scythes, equipped with heavy triangular handles, and alSo "gathering' hoops," from daylight to dark, their only food being oatmeal at breakfast and supper, with wheaten bread and a bottle of sweet ale for the mid-dav meal during the harvest mowings. Anyone who knows the muscular exertion required to handle heavy scythes on barley with young grass six or more inches high, can assure Mr. Armitage that tha work would be impossible for weak men. Those workers were paid £l2, and their foreman £ls and found per year. Women, Is per day of 10 hours and finding; their own food. No eight hours' work and eight hours' play, eight hours'- sleep and eight bob a day in those times. Yet, generally, the woflters appeared to be happy and contented with their environment. , C'xvxs. Takapuna.