Page:Boating - Woodgate - 1888.pdf/187

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Training.
159

All the same, the writer, when he has trained crews, has slightly modified the above in a few details. He has allowed (a little) fish or poultry daily, as an extra course, and for the same reason has always endeayoured to have both beef and mutton on the table. He believes that change of dish aids appetite, so long as the varieties of food do not clash in diges- tion. Men become tired with a monotony of food, however wholesome. Puddings the writer does not think much of, provided that other varieties of dish can be obtained. A cer- tain amount of vegetable food is necessary to blend with the animal food, else boils are likely to break out; but green vegetables such as are in season are far better than puddings for this purpose. Salad, daily zith the joint, will do good. It is unusual to see it, that is all. The salad should not be dressed, Lettuce, endive, watercress, smallcress, beetroot, and some minced spring onions to flavour the whole, make a pass- able dish, which a hungry athlete will much relish, Asparagus, spinach, and. French beans may be supplied when obtainable. Green peas are not so good, and broad beans worse. The tops of young nettles, when emerald green, make a capital dish, like spinach, rather more tasty than the latter vegetable. Such nettles can only be picked when they first shoot; old nettles are as bad as flowered asparagus.

If a crew train in the fruit season, fruit te a small amount will not harm them, 2s a finale to either breakfast or dinner. But the fruit should be zezy fresh, not bruised nor decomposed ; strawberries, gooseberries, grapes, peaches, nectarines, apricots (say one of the last three, or a dozen of the smaller fruits, for a man’s allowance), all are admissible. Not so melons, nor pines—so medical friends assert.

In hot summer weather it is as well to dine about 2 P.Mm., to row in the cool of the eyening, towards 7 P.a., and to sup about 8.30 org P.M. It is 2 mistake to assume that because a regatta will come off midday, therefore those who train for it should accustom themselves to a burning sun for practice. With all due deference to Herodotus (who avers that the