CABBAGES 



In the summer and fall, cabbages get ripe, and, as I have observed, 

 in Part I. Paragraph 143, the Ruta Baga (which we will call 

 Swedish Turnip for the future) is not so good till it be ripe : and 

 is a great deal better when kept till February, than when used in 

 December. This matter of ripeness is worthy of attention. Let 

 any one eat a piece of white cabbage : and then eat a piece of the 

 same soit of cabbage young and green. The first he will find sweet, 

 the latter bitter. It is the same with Turnips, and with all roots. 

 There are some apples, wholly uneatable till kept a zvhile, and then 

 delicious. This is the case with the Swedish Turnip. Hogs 

 will, indeed, always eat it, young or old ; but, it is not nearly so 

 good early, as it is when kept till February. However, in default 

 of other things, I would feed with it even in November. 



176. For these reasons I would have my due proportion of 

 cabbages, and I would always, if possible, have some Green 

 Savoys ; for, it is, with cabbages, too, not only quantity which we 

 ought to think of. The Drum-head, and some others, are called 

 cattle-cabbage : and hence, in England, there is an idea, that the 

 more delicate kinds of cabbage are not so good for cattle. But, the 

 fact is, that they are as much better for cattle, than the coarse 

 cabbages are, as they are better for us. It would be strange 

 indeed, that, reversing the principle of our general conduct, we 

 should give cabbage of the best quality to cattle, and keep that of 

 the worst quality for ourselves. In London, where taxation has 

 kept the streets as clear of bits of meat left on bones as the hogs 

 endeavour to keep the streets of New York, there are people who 

 go about selling &quot; dog s meat.&quot; This consists of boiled garbage. 

 But, it is not pretended, I suppose, that dogs will not eat roast- 

 beef ; nor, is it, I suppose, imagined, that they would not prefer 

 the roast-beef, if they had their choice ? Some people pretend, 

 that garbage and carrion are better for dogs than beef and mutton 

 are. That is to say, it is better for us, that they should live upon 

 things, which we ourselves loath, than that they should share with 

 us. Self-interest is, but too frequently, a miserable logician. 



177. However, with regard to cattle, sheep, and pigs, as we 

 intend to eat them, their claim to our kindness is generally more 

 particularly and impartially listened to than that of the poor dogs ; 

 though that of the latter, founded, as it is on their sagacity, their 

 fidelity, their real utility, as the guardians of our folds, our home 

 steads and our houses, and as the companions, or, rather, the 

 givers, of our healthful sports, is ten thousand times more strong, 

 than that of animals which live to eat, sleep, and grow fat. But, 

 to return to the cabbages, the fact is, that all sorts of animals, 

 which will eat them at all, like the most delicate kinds best ; and, 

 as some of these are also the earliest kinds, they ought to be 

 cultivated for cattle. Some of the larger kinds may be cultivated, 

 too : but, they cannot be got ripe till the fall of the year. Nor 

 is the difference in the weight of the crop so great as may be 

 imagined. On the same land, that will bear a Drum-head of 

 twenty pounds, an Early York, or Early Battersea will weigh four 



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