BRASSICA. 263 



in a four-inch layer in a cask ; this is strewed with 

 salt, unground pepper, and a small quantity of salad 

 oil : a man with clean wooden shoes then gets into 

 the cask, and treads the whole together till it is well 

 mixed and compact. Another layer is then added, 

 which is again trod down, and so on until the cask is 

 entirely filled. The whole is then subjected to heavy 

 pressure, and allowed to ferment ; when the fermen- 

 tation has subsided, the barrels in which it is pre- 

 pared are closed up, and it is preserved for use. The 

 preparing of sauerkraut is considered of so much im- 

 portance as to form a separate profession, which is 

 principally engrossed by the Tyrolese. The operation 

 of shredding the cabbage is now performed by a 

 machine, whicii the men carry on their backs from 

 house -to house ; this means for the abridgment of 

 labour has not been invented more than ten or twelve 

 years. Every German family stores up, according to 

 its size, one or more targe casks of this vegetable pre- 

 paration. October and November are the busy months 

 for the work, and huge white pyramids of cabbage 

 are seen crowding the markets ; while in every court 

 and yard into which an accidental peep is obtained, all 

 is bustle and activity in the concocting of this national 

 food, and the baskets piled with shredded cabbage re- 

 semble -' mountains of green-tinged froth or syllabub.' 



Sauerkraut has been found of sovereign efficacy as a 

 preservative from scurvy during long voyages ; it was 

 for many years used in our navy for this purpose, 

 until displaced by lemon-juice, which is equally a 

 specific, while it is not so bulky an article for store. 



The larger and grosser kinds of cabbage are used 

 as food for cattle. But this nutriment has a great 

 tendency to impart a disagreeable flavour to the milk 

 of cows fed on it, and even to the flesh of other 

 cattle. This unpleasant effect may, we are told, be 

 prevented by removing the withered leaves ; but cab- 



