Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-04-22
MYSTERIES OF SAUERKRAUT.
How the Succulcnt Cabbage is Fcmentcd-An
Immense supply Consumed Yearly.
New York Mail and Express

This is the time of the year when our
German fellow-citizens of bibulous ten
denotes regard with longing eyes the signs
displayed in front of lager-beer saloons
which announce that sauerkraut NIT
Fraukfurters can be had within. And
already after dark the Bowery CLOVIS with
the portable boilers of Italian vendors
who furnish sauerkraut and sausage
sandwich to all classes of night wander
ers for the small sum of cents. Without
/ this kraut the average German could not
exist. just as the Irishman would pine
/ away if deprived of his beloved potato,
/ the German grows sour and unsOciable
when compelled to forego his partially de
composed cabbage. Sauerkraut Is made
/ of the best cabbage, prepared in pecul-
/ lar way and Is really nothing more than
sour cabbage, as its German name implies.
Long island furnishes the supply OF cab
hage for New York. The area of low,
4 level land surrounding the towns OF ia
macia, Newton and New Nots is one vast
cabbage farm The largest individual
holding is that of Ascau Backus, at ia
macia, where nearly four hundred acres
are devoted to the cultivation of cabbage
alone. Six thousand plants are generally
placed IN am ucre. The greater number
of the cabbage gardeners send their pro-
duets to this city in their own farm
wagons, but those whose establishments
are further toward the eastern end of the
island utilize the open freight cars of the
Long island railroad, Loading these cars
with early cabbage is of itself "a work of
art. The stalks and the outside leaves are
cut of. The first layer ON the bottom of
the car Is placed with the stalk lutt rest
ing ON the floor The remaining layers
are placed with the top of the head down
ward. The heads are placed in layers
three feet deep, When docks are placed
IN horizontally and perpeudicularly, So as
to equally divide the layers. prevent later
al and downward pressure and insure per
feet ventilation. Loaded in this way the
cabbage REACHES its destination in good
order.
The largest sauerkruut factory in New
York Is situated in Forsyth street 1t is
diugy. iulllooking building on the
outside but ON the morning. when the
Long Island cabbage arrives. il spring,
into @ sudden and seethiug life. The
huge farm wagons dash up in front of
the buildings. and the canvas covers are
whipped of them I'm an instant At the
same the three big front windows of the
{ factory fly open, ana the teamsters auC
their helpers begin throwing the cahhag,
- tu two men, who stand in each window
! They are the cabbage inspectors, and if
head looks uu~ouud they toss il back {,
g the wagon, while il it is all right the.
$ pitch IL To the women dressers. who Will
q y swift movement Of curved knife loI
oil the outer leaves and dress II for tn
cutter The cutter is run by five hors
e engine and requires four feeders TO keel
4 Il busy. Il cuts l50 toms OF cabbage a day
d When it is cut and properly prepared tn
cabbage il passed "a the watts. They ar
q three IN number. and sixteen feet in diam
u eter by eight feet high. When the ca