MUSTAED EADISH. 39 



the stem. Its flowers are paler tlian those of the Cabbage. The 

 Isle of Man Cabbage is a pretty species, the petals veined with 

 lilac. The Turnip and all kinds of Broccoli belong to this family. 

 Rape seed is good food for birds, a useful oil is compressed from 

 it, and the residue forms " oil-cake," a nourishing food for 

 cattle, as effective as the " cod-oil" for the human species. 



The Mustard family succeeds that of the Cabbage. The 

 Charlock, or Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis), is a great plague 

 in corn fields. Its flowers are large and of a brilliant yellow, 

 and contrast well with the rough lyrate leaves. It is as trouble- 

 some a weed as the Eed Poppy, and scarcely less brilliant in 

 appearance. 



The common Mustard has four-sided pods, and the leaves 

 are smooth. Edward has a specimen gathered in waste ground 

 near Leamington. 



I had the pleasure of finding the Narrow-leaved Wall 

 Mustard (S. tenuifolia, Plate III., -fig. 9), near Norwood, one 

 dreary November day. It is a slender, elegant plant, with 

 a small spike of light yellow flowers, narrow stem-leaves, and 

 lyrate ones from the root. The whole plant has a disagreeable 

 smell. The seeds of the white Mustard are the most pungent, 

 and consequently the most valuable. 



The Radish family is the last in the Cruciferous order. Like 

 its allies, the leaves are lyrate ; but the jointed pods form a 

 good distinguishing feature. The Wild Radish (Raphanus 

 raphanistrum), is Edward's trophy, brought from a piece of 

 waste ground near Hawkhurst, in Kent. The petals are white 

 or pale lilac, veined distinctly with a deeper shade. 



The Sea Radish (R. maritirnus, Plate III., fig. 10), is Prim- 

 rose-coloured, also veined. Fanny brought it from the beau- 

 tiful cliffs near the Lizard Point. She has also specimens of 

 the Dame's Violet (Hesperis matronalis), the near ally of the 

 Wallflower and Stock. It came from the home of the Bristol 

 Rock Cress, Cadbury Hill, in Somerset. It has simple, lance- 

 shaped, toothed leaves and pretty blossoms of a pinkish-lilac hue. 



