GREEN VEGETABLES. 43 



As illustrating the origin of the many varieties of Brassica oleracea 

 by cultivation, Professor Buckman raised varieties from the seed of 

 wild plants collected from Llandudno, " some having short petioles 

 and the close-hearting condition of cabbages, both green and red, the 

 tendency [to vary] being much increased by repeated transplanting. 

 Others, with longer petioles and lyrate leaves, seem to take on the 

 looser method of growth of kales, &c." With reference to persistency 

 of form, Professor Buckman adds : " It may be remarked, as throwing 

 some light on the nature of the changes by which the cultivated 

 varieties of this genus have been attained, that experiments with seeds 

 of plants showing any particular tendency, and especially if repeatedly 

 grown in the same soil, will ever result in an increase of the same 

 peculiarity." * 



* Treasury of Botany, s.v. Brassica. 



