GKEEN VEGETABLES. 3 



Gerard's third figure, of the Bed Colewoort (B. rubra), has broader 

 leaves, which form a denser cluster, but still spreading. This may 

 have been the origin of our pickling cabbage. The next figure, No. 4, 

 B. capitata alba, the White Cabbage Cole, is the first he recognises as 

 a true cabbage, but the leaves are more erect and still loose. He says 

 of these two, No. 3, " The red kind, of Colewoort is likewise a Cole- 

 woort of the garden, and differeth from the common in the colour of 

 his leaves, which tende vnto rednesse, otherwise very like No. 4, 

 There is also founde a certaine kinde heereof with the leaues wrapped 



FIG. 18. EARLY FORM OF SAVOY CABBAGE, THE " CURLED SAUOIE COLE " 



(GERARD, 1597). 



togither into a rounde head or globe, whose head is white of colour, 

 especially toward winter, when it is ripe." 



No. 6 is called B. patula, or Open Cabbage Cole (fig. 17). The 

 leaves are represented as quite circular; but, as Gerard says, " when 

 it cometh to the shutting up or closing togither, it rather dilateth it 

 selfe abroade than closeth al together." As the object of the culti- 

 vator is to make his cabbages form a ' ' heart ' ' this form has probably 

 disappeared. 



The genuine hearting cabbage is represented by Gerard's fig. 5. 

 It is " lesser than the white cabbage, and the colour of the leaves is 

 of a lighter red than those of the former " (No. 4). Gerard gives two 

 figures of the Savoy Cabbage, now known botanically as B. oleracea 

 bullata; but this character of bulging between the meshes of the ribs 

 and rims is neither figured nor alluded to, so that it is probably a 



