WHAT SHALL WE EAT.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 759, 31 January 1865, Page 4

WHAT SHALL WE EAT.

It is an imporant question in these times oi high prices' Dr. Hall, in a late number oi his Journal af Health, says the cheapest articles of food at present prices are bread (especially corn meal;, butter, molasses, beans, and rice. He shows that Is.' worth of Hour, at 4d. per pound, contains as much nourishment as ss.' worth of roast beef, at Is. per pound; and that a pint of white beans, costing 3|d., has the same amount of nutriment °as -3£ pounds of beef, at Is., or, in other words, the roast beef diet is twelve times as expensive as the beans. Furthermore, a pound of Indian meal will go as fai as a pound of fine Hour, costing nearly twice as much. Here are some of the common articles of food, showing the amount of nutriment contained, and the time required for digestion:—

According to the above tables, cucumbers are of very little value, and apples, cabbages, turnips, and even potatoes, at present prices, are expensive eating. Some vegetables and fruits, should, however, enter into the family consumption, even if purchased for sanitary reasons. Among those which contain the most saccharine matter, sweet potatoes, parsnips, beets, and carrots, are the most nourishing. Eoast pork, besides being an expensive dish, requires too lengthy a drain upon the force of the stomach to be a healthy article of diet. — American Paper.

THE PANAMA ROUTE.

(From the Melbourne Argus, January 13.) Our Sydney neighbors seem resolved to commit themselves to the route via Panama. "We are induced to wish that they may make the experiment without further delay. Sure we are that, notwithstanding their presumed advantages of geographical position in reference to this route, they will discover thai the line via Suez is practically shorter foi them, as well as for us. A recent arrival from New Zealand brings us word that the Government of that colonj has concluded a contract with the New Zealand and Australian Royal Mail Company.

almost in the terms of Mr. Crosbie "Ward's contract. The Government will not bo obliged to continue the contract for more than seven years; and the course of post between England and Sydney is not to exceed a period of four months, going and returning. So far from being hostile to the route via Panama, we have reason to wish it success. We repeat our conviction, however, that the line via Suez will be found the speediest and the best for our Sydney neighbors, as well as for ourselves. Nor shall we be surprised to find that the New^ Zealand Government have gained nothing by this intended arrangement. Time will show. How much longer shall we have to wait for the fortnightly service which the P. and 0. Company are willing to guarantee tons on such reasonable terms ? Our connexion with Europe is too intimate and important, and the interests of the colony in speedy communication with England are too manifest, to allow us to rest contented with a monthly mail.

Apples, raw Beans, boiled Beef, roasted Bread, baked Butter Cabbage, boiled Cucumbers, raw Fish, boiled Milk, fresh Mutton, roasted Pork, roasted Poultry, roasted ... Potatoes, boiled Hice, boiled Sugar Turnips, boiled Veal, roasted Venison, boiled Time ot Digestion. h. m. 1 50 2 30 3 30 4 20 3 30 4 30 2 0 2 15 3 15 5 15 2 45 2 30 1 0 3 30 2 30 3 0 1 30 Amount oi Nutriment, per cent. 10 87 26 80 9G 7 2 20 7 30 24 27 13 87 96 4 25 22