258 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCE-. 



by crosses with the pollen of wild plants; while soil, 

 culture, and climate, exert a powerful influence over 

 the different species, altogether causing varieties and 

 sub-varieties, of which it would be a hopeless task to 

 attempt the enumeration. 



It is probable that some species of the brassica was 

 first introduced into this country by the Romans, 

 since kale is mentioned among the oldest English 

 records. It is well known that brassica was in very 

 common cultivation at Rome, where, according to 

 Columella, it was a favourite edible with freemen, and 

 in sufficient plenty to be an article of food for slaves. 

 The ancient Germans likewise cultivated this plant 

 from very remote times; whether they, too, were in- 

 debted to their Roman conquerors for its introduction 

 it is impossible to decide. The Saxon name for Feb- 

 ruary is sprout-kale,* and that is the season when the 

 sprouts from the old stalks begin to be fit for use; the 

 Saxons must therefore, of course, have been familiar 

 with the culture of cabbage or kale, as it is not at all 

 probable that they invented the name after their set- 

 tlement in this country. 



The variety of brassica which was first cultivated 

 in England cannot be ascertained, since our ances- 

 tors had no distinctive name for the different kinds. 

 Many improvements have been made in the culti- 

 vation of this vegetable, and many new varieties in- 

 troduced by different individuals at comparatively 

 recent dates. 



The close-hearted variety, which is now more pecu- 

 liarly called cabbage, was for many years imported into 

 England from Holland. Sir Anthony Ashley first in- 

 troduced its cultivation into this country, and made the 

 English independent of their neighbours for a supply. 

 This planter of cabbages likewise rendered his name 

 known by other deeds, less creditable to his character. 

 It is related that he had a command at Cales (Cadiz), 



* White's History of Selborne. 



