Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/450

418] other vegetable, and, when in that state, their smell is extremely offensive, and bears no small resemblance to that of animal substances in a state of putrescency. The cauliflower is considered as the easiest to be digested, of all the various species of cabbage. But, notwithstanding these apparent obstacles to the use of this plant, it is not destitute of utility in a medicinal way; a decoction of red cabbage being frequently recommended for softening acrimonious humours in some disorders of the breast, and also in hoarseness.  CABBAGE, the, is a shrub, a native of France, in the western provinces of which, and also in Glamorganshire, and other parts of Wales, it is successfully cultivated. It is leguminous, and equally useful both for food and fodder. Its stalk, which generally grows to the height of seven feet, when dried, makes excellent fuel. The following circumstances more particularly recommend the culture of this plant: 1. That it will grow on the most indifferent soil; 2. That it will endure the severest winter, and produce a constant succession of sprouts during the spring; and, 3. That it will yield an abundance of seed, though the young shoots be ever so frequently gathered. Lastly, it never causes any flatulence or uneasiness in the stomach, and is so tender that a minute's boiling is sufficient for dressing it. Cattle likewise eat it eagerly, and especially cows, whose milk it considerably increases.  CABBAGE-PALM, or Areca oleracea, L. an exotic plant, and, perhaps, the tallest, and most beautiful of vegetable productions, growing generally to the height of 170 or 200 feet. It is about seven feet in circumference near the ground; its branches, when full grown, are 20 feet in length, and have a great number of green pennated leaves, some of which are nearly three feet long, though only an inch and a half broad. The bark of the cabbage-palm, which tapers as it ascends, is distinguished for a peculiarity, that is not to be observed in any other tree. Till it reaches within twenty-five, or thirty feet of the extremity, it is of an ash-colour, but then immediately changes to a deep sea-green, and continues so to the top, near which, what is called the cabbage, is found enveloped in several thin, snow-white brittle flakes, of a taste similar to almonds, though somewhat sweeter. The cabbage-flower first appears like a small husky spatha, or sheath, and grows to the length of twenty inches, and to the breadth of about four inches. On being opened when young, a farinaceous yellow seed in embryo, resembling saw-dust, is found abundantly dispersed among its filaments, which are pickled and eaten with great relish. But, if it be permitted to arrive at maturity, it bursts, and the inclosed part produces several small oval nuts, resembling coffee berries.

The other parts of this plant are employed for various purposes, one of which deserves particularly to be noticed. On the inner side of the young foot-stalks are tender pellicles, of which, it is asserted, good paper might be manufactured. When the materials for making that article are so scarce, this substance deserves at least a fair trial, as it grows abundantly in the West Indies, and might be thence procured without much difficulty. CAGE,