CHAPTER VIII 

 VEGETABLES 



74. Definition. There is no exact definition of the word 

 vegetable. Its application is a matter of usage, including the 

 greatest variety of plant structures. Even the same plant 

 product may be called a vegetable or not ; for example, corn 

 is either a vegetable or a cereal, dependent upon the manner of 

 using it. While the cereals all belong to one great family, the 

 grass family, and all the principal fruits belong to two or three 

 families, vegetables belong to a great number of families. 

 In the following pages representatives of ten families will be 

 presented as being included among vegetables, and these 

 are selected only as samples. 



Most of the vegetables are cultivated in all countries, but 

 each country is characterized by the emphasis it places upon 

 certain vegetables. For example, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, 

 tomatoes, and watermelons are cultivated more extensively 

 in the United States than anywhere else in the world. These 

 four " vegetables " will serve to illustrate the great variety of 

 structures covered by the name : one is a seed, one is a root, 

 and two are fruits. If to these we add cabbage and lettuce, 

 which are leaves, onions, which are bulbs, and potatoes, 

 which are tubers, we find that at least six different plant struc- 

 tures are included in the term vegetable. 



75. Suggestions for work. In connection with the work 

 of this chapter, not only ought some of the quick-growing 

 vegetables to be cultivated, but as good a collection of vege- 

 tables ought to be brought together as the neighborhood 

 affords. An interesting " field trip " consists in visiting some 

 large market, where the different vegetables can be recog- 



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