Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-07-16
Snails.

Snalls.
Wide on the subject of foes we may
mention the small shelless suaile, or
slugs, which, says White, "silently and
impe:> ;'tibly make amazing havoc in
the field Gnd garden. Farmer Young,
of Norton Farm, says that this spring
(1777) about four acres Of his wheat in
one field was entirely destroyed by
slugs, which swarmed on the blades Of
corn, and devoured it as fast as it
sprang." The whole of the slugs and
shell-snails (Gastcropoaa Yclicidtc)
are very injurious to the farmer and
gardener. We are told, however, that
there can be little doubt that the larger
species are good for food "They
were favorite dish with the Romans,
who had their Cochlearia, where they
were regularly fattened with new wine
boiled down and meal. Hetic pon,atia
is used as food in many parts of Eu-
rope during Lent, and the snails are
kept in an 'iescargotoire (snaillery1,
which is generally large place board
ed in, having the floor covered half 1,
foot deep with herbs, where the animals
fatten. And, fat indeed, they must
become if, as Pliny and Varro relate,
they grow 80 large that the shells
of some would hold ten quarts! We
will not detain the reader with a disser-
tation on snails, but will merely men,
ton two of the numerous family from
the above cited authority. "Kc1iv as
l,e,sa, the common snail. This is the
commonest and one of the han0somest
of British snails. 1t is found where
ever there is vegetation, but is more
especially addicted to gardens. This
snail is collected and sold in Covent
Garden and other markets as a cure for
diseases of the chest. 1t is prepared
by being boiled in milk. Large guam
titles are collected and sent every year
from this country to the United States
of America, where they ore said
to be regarded as .delicacies. They
are packed in casks, in which they
travel very well, as they fixed them
selves on one another around the cir
conference of the cask, leaving q vacant
space in the center. At Newcastle on
Tyne the glass men hold a snail-feast
once O year, when large quantities Of
this species Of small snail arc con-
sumed." "Ueiic 2,on,atia, the edible
Roman snail, or large-shcllctl snail.
The shell is solid, globose, coarscly
wrinkled lengthways, most infinitely
striated in spiral direction; pale
tawny, with rufous bands. The animal
is Of general brownish- gray, speckled
with whitish and brown granulations. -
This species in Great Britain is confined
to the chalk districts of the south of
England. It has been found as far
north us Wiltshire. There is n notion
prevalent that it is not an original i'll
habitant of England, but that it was in
troduced by the Romans, who were
famous for its culture. There is no evi-
dence to prove this, and it is found in
Sweden, where tho climate is much
more rigorous than our own. It's great
necessity is chalk, and where this sub
stance prevails it is found. The snail
is eaten in this country. Lister says:
"They are boiled in spring water, and
when seasoned with oil, salt, and pep
per, make dainty DISH" The IIclic
ponaatia is said by some to have been
introduced into England from the south
of France by Sir Kenelm Digby for his
wife Venetia, who was in consumption
and Mr.. Murray, in his Handbook Of
Buckinghamshire, says it abounds in
the woods of Gayhnrst, near Olney,
where Sir Kenelm lived. We must leave
it to the reader, then, to decide whether
we ore to insert these two snails at least
in the category Of friends or .foes.--
Shilling Acy0zi',c.