260 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



and the stalks of the plants falling to the share of 

 the cattle. The father of Burns was from Kincar- 

 dineshire ; and the poet alludes to the customs of 

 that county in his humorous comparison of Kilmar- 

 nock to a cow. 



' Now auld Kilmarnock cock thy tail 



An' toss thy horns fu' cantie : 

 Nae mair thou'lt route o'er moor and dale, 



Because thy fare is scanty ; 

 For lapfu's large o' gospel kail 



Shall fill thy crib in plenty ; 

 An' runts o' grace the feck and wale, 



No gi'en by way o' dainty, 

 But ilka day.' 



The lapfu's allude to the outside leaves, and the 

 runts to the portion of the stalk and centre from 

 which the parts fit for culinary purposes have been 

 removed ; the fatter especially were given as a dainty 

 to the favourite milch-cows. 



Many allusions in the old Scotch songs point to the 

 fact of the country about Aberdeen abounding with 

 this vegetable. In recommending the good fare of 

 the country, the poet says, 



' There's cauld kail in Aberdeen, 

 An' castocks * in Stra'bogie. ' 



The ' kale brose o' auld Scotland' is celebrated to 

 the same tune as the ' roast beef of old England ; ' 

 and though, with many of the ancient peculiarities of 

 the people, it has fallen much into disuse, it is still 

 considered a national dish. 



All those kinds of cultivated brassica, the leaves 

 and flowers of which are eaten, belong to the species 

 oleracea. This resolves itself into many varieties and 

 endless sub-varieties, which, however, may be reduced 



* Cabbage stems having the fibrous part peeled off, and the 

 remainder softened by boiling. Before the introduction of the 

 turnip into general use in Scotland, this medullary substance of 

 the stalks of the brassica was very commonly eaten by the pea- 

 santry. 



