IQ* M. De Candolle on the Species and Varieties 



knows, disseminated throughout Europe; but fi-oni the con- 

 fusion reigning in their popular and unscientific nomenclatm'e, 

 it was impossible to know which of these species and varieties 

 were si)oken of on different occasions, so that the experiments 

 of one country were useless for another, and it was impossible 

 to deduce any general considerations on the nature of these 

 vegetables. In order to apply the classification proposed I 

 shall adtl two shoi't remarks. The distinction of the several 

 varieties once established, we shall find it possible to use terms 

 of comparison for the different experiments made by cultiva- 

 tors, and more especially for those of Mons. Gaujac *. The 

 medium product of a hectarf of ground cultivated in oleiferous 

 cruciferous plants appears to be, 



Brassica campestris oleifera. KiliogrammeJ 955 of oil. 

 Brassica Napus oleifera .... 700 

 Brassica oleracea acephala fimbriata . 700 



Brassica campesti'is Napo-brassica communis 650 

 Brassica campestris Napo-brassica Ruta-baga 650 

 Ctmielina sativa ..... 595 

 Brassica prascox ..... 450 

 Hesperis matronalis .... 350 



Brassica Rapa oleifera . . . (undetermined.) 



Raphanus sativus Radicuhi oleifera . . ditto 

 Brassica elongata ..... ditto 

 If we now compare the cruciferous plants together, in a dif- 

 fei'ent point of view, we shall obtain some curious results on 

 their organization. Most of them, and perhaps the whole num- 

 ber, are susceptible of two different variations, the one hav- 

 ing a thin, slender, slightly fleshy root, the other a thick and 

 fleshy root : in general, those of the first kind bear a consider- 

 able quantity of seeds, and are cultivated throughout Europe 

 as oleiferous vegetables; the others, on the contrary, bring 

 few seeds to perfection, and are cultivated in general for their 

 roots, as excellent for field or garden vegetables. So in the 

 Brassica oleracea, the varieties that have a thin stalk are culti- 

 vated for their seeds, and those that have swelled radicles are 

 reserved for food. Among the varieties of the Brassica cam- 

 pestris, which, by reason of its large seeds, appears to be emi- 

 nently oleiferou;., the Colsa is the most productive, and has 

 the thinnest root; for the produce of oil, the Ruta-baga and 

 common Napo-brassica are much less useful. In the Brassica 

 Rapa, the Navette with a thin root is cultivated for its oily 

 seeds, whilst the Turnip, or Brassica Rapa dcpressa, is used 



* Bull. Soc. Encourag. Industr, Paris, pp. 67 & 69. 



+ The Hectar is equal to 2 acres, 1 rood, 3o"4 perches English. 



X The Kitiogramme is equal to 21b. Soz. 12"1 16 grains troy. 



for 



