CRUCIFERjE. LXXXIII. BRASSICA. 



229 



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.) (Brdssica 

 oleracea, B. acephala, var. -y, Sabellica, 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 of a bitter flavour (Loud, encycl. gard.) 



* * Chou aigrette, Chou plume (Fr.) (Brdssica oleracea, B. 

 acephala, var. y, Sabellica, * pinnata, D. C. I. 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. (Brdssica oleracea, B. acephala, 

 var. y, Sabellica, laciniata.) 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. (Brdssica oleracea, B. acepha- 

 la, var. y, Sabellica, Juddica 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. campestris, Napo-Brassica. 



***** The Buda Kale, Russian Kale,- Prussian Kale, 

 and by some called Manchester Kale. (Brdssica oleracea, B. 

 acephala, var. y, Sabellica. Ruthenica.} Like die 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 leaves 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 

 die others, and until late in the spring, a greater breadth of 

 ground should be allowed for it, and a second plantation made in 

 August for the later gathering. A writer in Hort. Trans. Lond. 



has, by blanching Btida-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 Kale 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. 



The Variegated Borecole (Brdssica Oleracea, 

 B. acephala, var. y, Sabellica * * versicolor, D. C. I. 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 Brorvn Kale of the 

 Germans (Brassica Oleracea, B. acephala, var. y, Sabellica * * 

 purpurascens, D. C. I. 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 frise (Fr.). 



5 THE PALM KALE Chou Palmier (Fr.) (Brdssica Oleracea, 

 B. acephala, var. e, palmifolia, D. C. I. c.) This variety is de- 

 scribed by Delaunay in " Le bon Jardinier," as rising to the height 

 of 6 or 1 2 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, thus 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 THE Cow CABBAGE (Loud. gard. mag. vol. 5. f. 14.) or CE- 

 SAREAN KALE (Brdssica Oleracea, B. acephala, var. , ar- 

 borescens). 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 1C 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 THE RIBBED CABBAGE or KALE ; Chou blond a grosses 

 cotes, Chou d grosses cotes, Chou a larges cotes (Fr.). Cove 

 tronchuda (Port.). (Brassica Oleracea, B. acephala, var. i, 

 Costala, D. C. I. 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 THE NEPENTHES-LIKE BORECOLE or KALE (Brdssica Oler- 

 acea, B. acephala, var. nepcnthiformis, D. C. I. 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. 



Prrpagation of Borecole. All the sorts are raised from seeds, 

 and for a seed-bed of 50 feet square half an ounce is sufficient. 



