There is one very important matter which unques-
tionaWy requires to have special attention dx'awn to
it I refer to the customary Australian mid-day
meal Strange to say, all through the hot season, as
well as the rest of the year, this consists in most
cases of a heavy repast always comprising meat.
Why, even in the cooler months, a ponderous meal of
this kind is not required ! My own views are that
meat in the middle of the day is quite unnecessary,
and, indeed, during the hot months actually preju-
dicial. Most people in Australia, after a fair trial,
will find that a lunch of some warm soup, with a
course perhaps of some fish, and vegetables, or salad,
or whatever it may be to follow, will not only be
ample, but will give them a sensation of buoyancy
in tlie afternoon they never before experienced.
Among the recipes will be found many which' may
help to bring about a reform in this respect. The
heavier meal should certainly be towards the evening
after the sun-heat of the day is over, at which time it
is more enjoyed and better digested.
XU PREFACE.
Having thus far referred to our totally inadequate
supply of fish food, of vegetables, and of salad plants
and herbs, there is still the great Australian wine
industry to consider. At present only in its swad-
dling clothes, it is destined before very long to enter
upon its vigorous life. There was an eminent French
naturalist, M. F. Peron, sent out to Australia by the
Emperor Napoleon during the years 1801 to 1804
inclusive. A shrewd observer, he saw even at that
early period of Australian history that there were
unequalled possibilities for her wine. In the course
of his interesting narrations he remarks : — " By one
" of those chances which are inconceivable. Great
" Britain is the only one of the great maritime powers
" which does not cultivate the vine, either in its own
" territories or its colonies ; notwithstanding, the con-
" sumption of wine on board its fleets and throughout
" its vast regions is immense."
In the whole of Australia the annual production of
wine is only a little over three million gallons ; but in
France, as well as in Italy, it is nearly 800 million
gallons. These two countries together, therefore,
every year produce about 1,596 million gallons more
wine .than Australia. These stupendous figures reveal
very plainly what an enormous expansion awaits our
wine industry.
The colossal growth of the wool trade is in striking
contrast to the puny dimensions of the wine industry.
PREFACE. xiii
In 1805 the exportation of wool from Australia was
"nil." In 1811 it reached to the modest amount of
167 lbs., while Spain exported 6,895,525 lbs. In
1861 the exportation of wool from Australia increased
to 68,428,000 lbs., whilst from Spain it fell to
1,268,617 lbs. And lastly, in 1891 the amount of
wool exported from Australia reached the majestic
figures of 593,830,153 lbs., representing a value of
^20,569,093. If New Zealand be included, the total
export attains to 710,392,909 lbs., having a value of
.;^24,698,779. It must be borne in mind that these
figures represent only the wool actually exported, and
do not include that kept back for Australian require-
ments. As I have pointed out in the beginning of
the chapter on Australian wine, if the latter industry
had increased in similar proportion, Australia's pros-
perity would be second to none in the world.
Page 7
Presented as published in 1893. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
There is one very important matter which unquestionably requires to have special attention drawn to it I refer to the customary Australian mid-day meal Strange to say, all through the hot season, as well as the rest of the year, this consists in most cases of a heavy repast always comprising meat. Why, even in the cooler months, a ponderous meal of this kind is not required ! My own views are that meat in the middle of the day is quite unnecessary, and, indeed, during the hot months actually prejudicial. Most people in Australia, after a fair trial, will find that a lunch of some warm soup, with a course perhaps of some fish, and vegetables, or salad, or whatever it may be to follow, will not only be ample, but will give them a sensation of buoyancy in the afternoon they never before experienced. Among the recipes will be found many which' may help to bring about a reform in this respect. The heavier meal should certainly be towards the evening after the sun-heat of the day is over, at which time it is more enjoyed and better digested.
XU PREFACE.
Having thus far referred to our totally inadequate supply of fish food, of vegetables, and of salad plants and herbs, there is still the great Australian wine industry to consider. At present only in its swaddling clothes, it is destined before very long to enter upon its vigorous life. There was an eminent French naturalist, M. F. Peron, sent out to Australia by the Emperor Napoleon during the years 1801 to 1804 inclusive. A shrewd observer, he saw even at that early period of Australian history that there were unequalled possibilities for her wine. In the course of his interesting narrations he remarks : — " By one " of those chances which are inconceivable. Great " Britain is the only one of the great maritime powers " which does not cultivate the vine, either in its own " territories or its colonies ; notwithstanding, the con- " sumption of wine on board its fleets and throughout " its vast regions is immense."
In the whole of Australia the annual production of wine is only a little over three million gallons ; but in France, as well as in Italy, it is nearly 800 million gallons. These two countries together, therefore, every year produce about 1,596 million gallons more wine .than Australia. These stupendous figures reveal very plainly what an enormous expansion awaits our wine industry.
The colossal growth of the wool trade is in striking contrast to the puny dimensions of the wine industry.
PREFACE. xiii
In 1805 the exportation of wool from Australia was "nil." In 1811 it reached to the modest amount of 167 lbs., while Spain exported 6,895,525 lbs. In 1861 the exportation of wool from Australia increased to 68,428,000 lbs., whilst from Spain it fell to 1,268,617 lbs. And lastly, in 1891 the amount of wool exported from Australia reached the majestic figures of 593,830,153 lbs., representing a value of ^20,569,093. If New Zealand be included, the total export attains to 710,392,909 lbs., having a value of .;^24,698,779. It must be borne in mind that these figures represent only the wool actually exported, and do not include that kept back for Australian requirements. As I have pointed out in the beginning of the chapter on Australian wine, if the latter industry had increased in similar proportion, Australia's prosperity would be second to none in the world.