CABBAGE. 105 



It appears, that the Romans had not at- 

 tempted to raise this vegetable in their gar- 

 dens in the time of Pliny, who calls it Hal- 

 myridia, and says it grows only on the sea- 

 coast. He observes, provision is made of them 

 to serve in long voyages at sea, for as soon as 

 they are cut up, they are put into barrels 

 where oil has lately been kept, and then 

 stopped up close, that no air come to them. 



The different opinions as to the qualities 

 of cabbage in general, are as various as the 

 authors are numerous ; we notice these con- 

 tradictory opinions without falling into the 

 enthusiasm of one party, or the prejudice of 

 others, as experience teaches us, that the 

 same vegetable diet which affords medicine 

 to one constitution, may be venomous to an- 

 other, and that to preserve our health, we 

 should change our diet with our habits, as 

 we change our garments with the seasons. 



All the species of cabbage are now gene- 

 rally supposed to be hard of digestion, to 

 afford little nourishment, and to produce 

 flatulencies. They tend strongly to putre- 

 faction, and run into this state sooner than 

 almost any other vegetable ; when putrefied, 

 their smell is likewise the most offensive, 



