are fresh fruits boiled when needed, with very little sugar. I consider it a pity to cook or stew peaches, when they are so much better fresh, with sugar sprinkled over them and half-frozen. And what a destruction of fine pears! However, _compotes_ are much appreciated and used in France. I value _compotes_ of apples, however, and also of inferior hard pears. The first two of the receipts are from Professor Blot.