52 CRUCIFER.E 



" Xot Solomon, in all liis state, 



Was clad like Nature's simplest child ; 

 Nor could the world combined create 

 One flow'ret wild." 



The Eock Whitlow-grass grows among the crevices or at the summit of 

 some of the Highland mountains. 



10. Gold of Pleasure (Camelina). 



Common Gold of Pleasure (C sattva). — Leaves entire, or some- 

 times slightly toothed, lanceolate and arrow-shaped at the base ; pouches 

 very large, on long stalks ; seeds rough. This Gold of Pleasure is certainly 

 rather a naturalized than a truly Avild flower. It is found in fields of flax, or 

 in places near where flax has formerly grown, straying from thence into the 

 waste places and field borders at a short distance ; but it does not long pro 

 pagate itself spontaneously in this country, and has disappeared from many 

 localities in which it is recorded to have grown formerly. The author, many 

 years since, found a large quantity of it in a corn-field, near the strange-look- 

 ing heap of stones between Rochester and Maidstone, commonly called Kit's 

 Coty House, and believed to be the burial-place of Hengist and Horsa. The 

 flowers grow, in J une and July, in clusters ; they are of a full yellow colour. 

 The plant, however, is quite as conspicuous after flowering as when in 

 blossom ; for the pouches on their long stalks present an appearance different 

 from that of any other of our wild plants, and remind one, by the form of 

 their branches, of an old-fashioned candelabrum. AVhy the plant should have 

 been called Gold of Pleasure is not veiy apparent ; but Professor Burnett 

 says that the name may have a satirical reference to the disappointment 

 caused by gold spent in pleasure ; this plant having no great beauty. It is 

 much cultivated in Germany, and other parts of the Continent, for the sake 

 of the oil contained in its seeds ; and it is known in most European countries. 

 Gerarde says of it, " Rucllius teacheth that the poore peasant doth use the 

 oile in banquets, and the rich in their lamps." One of its former names was 

 Myagnim ; the French call it La Cameline ; the Germans, Der Leindother. It 

 is the Vlaschdotter of the Dutch, and the Miagro of the Italian and Spaniard. 

 The seeds are said to be a favourite food of geese, and cattle eat the plant. 

 The oil procured from it is used for culinary, medicinal, and various house- 

 hold purposes. It is now many years since Mr. Taylor sent to the Royal 

 Institution a communication on the desirableness of introducing the culture 

 of this plant into Ireland. This gentleman, who had for twenty years past 

 been occupied in making various experiments on plants containing oil, had 

 come to the conclusion that the oil contained in the Camelina was of much 

 value, both to agriculturists and manufacturers. After describing the plant, 

 and mentioning that it was a native of Sil)eria, he says, " The first supply of 

 seed was received from Professor Fischer, of the Royal Agricultural Society 

 at St. Petersburg. The soils best adapted to its cultivation are those of a 

 light nature, though it will yield a crop on those of a most inferior descrip- 

 tion, and has been found on barren sandy soils, where no other vegetation 

 was to be seen. It should be sown early in spring, and may be cultivated 

 after any corn-crops, and is a non-exhauster of the ground." Professor Van 



