CRUCIFERA. LXXXIII. Brassica. 
. fringed. The part used is the crown or centre of the plant, cut 
off with as much of the top of the stem as will keep the leaves 
together, which do not exceed 9 inches in length. It boils well 
and is most tender, sweet, and delicate, provided it has been duly 
exposed to the frost. Morgan says it is impossible to find a 
plant of more excellence for the table or more easily cultivated. 
The following are sub-varieties of the same. 
* German Kale (Eng.) Chou d'Allemagne (Fr.) (Bréssica 
oleracea, B. acéphala, var. y, Sabéllica, Germdnica.) This va- 
riety of the Green Borecole is known in Scotland under the 
names of German Greens, German Kale, Curled Kale, and Cur- 
lies. Morgan says this Green is of singular merit. Its leaves 
are more pointed and grow much longer than those of the 
others ; their margins are not so much plaited, but being still 
considerably so, give them a curled or fringed appearance, 
but not so richly and beautifully so as the true Scotch Kale. 
The chief difference consists in its furnishing abundance of side 
shoots or sprouts for the table after the crown has been gathered. 
It grows tall, and this disposition ought to be encouraged by 
early planting, for the supply of shoots is nearly in proportion to 
the length of the stem. It is rather more hardy than the Scotch 
Kale, in taste it is the same, but when not mellowed by frost has 
something ofa bitter flavour (Loud. encycl. gard.) 
* * Chou aigrette, Chou plume (Fr.) (Brassica oleracea, B. 
acéphala, var. y, Sabéllica, * pinnata, D. C. l. c.) The leaves 
of this variety are thin, and very deeply jagged and curled, the 
indentations being so deep as to appear almost pinnated. It is 
not much cultivated, and it does not appear to possess any supe- 
rior quality. 
* * * The Ragged Jack. (Brássica oleràcea, B. acéphala, 
var. y, Sabellica, laciniàta.) This variety grows short on the 
ground, and in the spring shoots up strongly from the crown and 
sides. The leaves are very glaucous, much cut and divided; 
the edges are marked with small blunt crenatures, and there 
arise from several points on the upper surface of each leaf, and 
particularly on the large ones, small leafy appendages similar in 
texture to the main leaf. This plant is almost entirely confined 
to cottage and farm gardens. 
*** *® The Jerusalem Kale. (Brassica oleracea, B. acépha- 
la, var. y, Sabéllica, Judaica Delaware Cabbage.) This va- 
riety agrees with the preceding in habit and growth. The leaves 
are long, with several deep indentations on each side; their 
edges are serrated but not deeply so, the upper surface having a 
purplish hue, the under surface being a pale green, and the veins 
are purple, inclining to a pink colour. The whole plant when 
growing appears of a dingy purple, and is extremely hardy ; 
when the taller winter greens have ceased to be good by running 
to flower the shoots of this are ready to take their place at the 
table. This with the preceding and following are perhaps refer- 
able to B. campéstris, Napo- Brassica. 
** ** * The Buda Kale, Russian Kale, Prussian Kale, 
and by some called Manchester Kale. (Brassica oleracea, B. 
acephala, var. y, Sabéllica—Ruthénica.) Like the preceding. 
This is dwarf in its habit, but more close and compact ; with 
leaves like the German Kale, and curled on the edges in the 
Same way. Before the plant begins to shoot in the spring it ap- 
pears purple, the back and edges of the Jeaves being tinged with 
that colour, which of course are more in view in their growing 
State than when expanded. It is equal in value to any variety 
of Borecole, sweet and well-flavoured, perfectly hardy, and re- 
mains till late in the spring before it comes to flower. As this 
variety is expected to furnish a supply much longer than any of 
€ others, and until late in the spring, a greater breadth of 
ground should be allowed for it, and a second plantation made in 
ugust for the later gathering. A writer in Hort. Trans. Lond. 
229 
has, by blanching Buda-Kale, very much improved it; and the 
process is performed nearly in the same manner as that for Sea 
Kale. It is blanched by inverting a large flower-pot over it, 
any other Aale may be rendered more delicate by this process, 
and it might be had at a time when Sea-Kale cannot be procured, 
and would be an excellent substitute for it. 
eee ** The Variegated Borecole (Brassica Oleracea, 
B. acéphala, var. y, Sabéblica * * versicolor, D. C. l. c.) Of 
several of the sub-varieties of Borecole, there are varieties 
which are blotched or striped with white or red; these are 
chiefly cultivated for ornament or curiosity. 
**#**** The Purple Borecole or Brown Kale of the 
Germans (Brassica Oleracea, B. acéphala, var. y, Sabéllica * * 
purpurascens, D. C. l. c.). This variety differs from the others 
in the leaves and entire plant being of a deep purple colour, 
becoming somewhat greenish as the leaves enlarge, but the veins 
and ribs still remaining purple. It is a more hardy plant than 
the green Borecole, but of less delicate flavour. When boiled 
the purple colour in a great degree disappears. (Loud. ency. 
gard.) Chou rouge frisé (Fr.). 
5 Tue Parm Kate Chou Palmier (Fr.) (Brassica Oleracea, 
B. acéphala, var. £, palmifolia, D. C. l.c.) This variety is de- 
scribed by Delaunay in “ Le bon Jardinier,” as rising to the height 
of 6 or 12 feet, with a straight bare stem, the leaves displaying 
themselves only at the top, and thus producing the appearance 
of a little palm-tree; the leaves are much puckered, and so much 
rolled inwards at the edges, that they appear narrow, while at the 
same time they hang in a curved manner, thas aiding the illu- 
sion. It is almost peculiar to Italy, and not very hardy. The 
Palm Borecole is said to be cultivated to considerable extent in 
Jersey'and Guernsey in orchards, the outer leaves for feeding 
cattle, and the heart is used for culinary purposes, and is said to 
be very good. 
6 Tue Cow Cassace (Loud. gard. mag. vol. 5. f. 14.) or CE- 
SAREAN Kate (Brassica Oleracea, B. acéphala, var. ¢, ar- 
boréscens). This plant is almost similar in habit to the preceding, 
but the stem rises to the height of from 10 to 16 feet, the leaves 
are not so puckered nor rolled inwards at the edges, nor do they 
hang down so much. The stem is naked and simple, crowned 
by a head of leaves like a palm-tree. Sixty plants of this 
variety are said to afford sufficient provender for one cow for a 
year, and as the side leaves are only to be used, it lasts four 
years without fresh planting. In La Vendee this plant is said to 
attain the height of 12 or 16 feet. In Jersey the plant is suffi- 
ciently hardy, and where it grows from 4 to 12 feet. The little 
farmers there feed their cows with the leaves, plucking them from 
the stem as they grow, leaving the crown at the top. The stems 
being strong are also used by them for roofing small outhouses. 
When the gathering of the leaves is finished, at the end of the 
year, the terminating bud or crown is boiled and is said to be 
particularly sweet. It is not sufficiently hardy to stand the 
climate of Britain, unless planted in a very sheltered situation. 
7 Tue Rissen Cassace or Kare; Chou blond à grosses 
cotes, Chou à grosses cotes, Chou à larges cotes (Fr.). Cove 
tronchuda (Port.). (Brassica Oleracea, B. acéphala, var. ¢, 
Costata, D. C. l.c.) The stem of this variety is humble and a 
little branched. The leaves are sinuately repand with the nerves 
very thick. It is much cultivated in France and Portugal. 
8 Tue Neventues-tike Borecote or Kare (Brassica Oler- 
àcea, B. acéphala, var. nepenthiformis, D. C. l. c.). The nerves 
of the leaves of this variety are drawn out like threads, and these 
threads are terminated by funnel-shaped appendages. This 
variety is only cultivated for curiosity, and it is seldom to be 
seen in the collections of this country. Hort. trans. 5. t. 1. 
Prepagation of Borecole. All the sorts are raised from seeds, 
and for a seed bed of 50 feet square half an ounce is sufficient. 
