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The Winter Cherry

The Winter Cherry, or Physalis, although of the Nightshade Family (Solanacee) is one of most picturesque of real food berries, a sweet, succulent morsel of yellow, green, purple, or red, hiding away in a dainty green or yellow nest, unsuspected by those unfamiliar with it. This Ground or Winter Cherry is a friendly little thing, making open overtures to cultivation, running wild by inherited habit but often entering gardens of its own accord and remaining, when encouraged, as a permanent resident. There are numerous species, among them the Alkekengi, or "Strawberry Tomato," or "Love Apple," and the "Peruvian Gooseberry," or Physalis pubescens, and they are known, wild or cultivated, all over the world, from the tropics of America and Asia northward, sometimes found in Scotland and other damp, cold latitudes. The Winter Cherry is excellent either in natural condition or "put up," and may be cooked by any method of which the general berry group is susceptible-with most satisfactory results to the palate. Also, this little "Winter Cherry" is "good for the health," being as cooling as its name. It acts wholesomely upon the kidneys and has been valued medicinally in other ways, as for gout and fevers.