Grapes present one of these.
Expelling skin and seeds.
They are taken up singly, and afterwards the skin and seeds have to be expelled as unobtrusively as possible. It is a matter of great difficulty to accomplish this by any other method than using the hand, therefore this is the accepted custom. The forefinger is curved above the mouth in a manner which serves to conceal the ejectment, and the skin and seeds are in this way conveyed to the plate, the fingers being afterwards wiped with the napkin.
Bananas.
Bananas are peeled with the knife and fork, and the pieces are conveyed to the mouth by means of the fork.
Oranges.
Oranges are cut in two, then in four, and with the aid of knife and fork the contents of each section are extracted in two or more parts, and carried to the lips on the fork.
Apples and pears, &c.
Apples and pears are peeled with the knife and fork; peaches, apricots, and nectarines in the same way.
Strawberries.