91 



CABBAGE.— BRASSICA. 



Natural order, Cruciferce. A genus of the 

 Tetr adynamia Siliquosa class. 



Theophrastus and the earlier Greek au- 

 thors called this vegetable 'Pctqxzvo?, Raphanus, 

 from the seed bearing a resemblance to that of 

 the radish. It was named by later writers 

 Kfa//tCtf, and attice, Kopx^n, or Koja//,£A>?, as 

 it was thought to injure the eye-sight, which 

 is signified by Columella in these words, oculis 

 inimica Coramble ; but he afterwards contra- 

 dicts himself, and states that it is good for 

 dim eyes. 



The Roman name, Brassica, came, as is 

 supposed, from prceseco, because it was cut off 

 from the stalk : it was also called Caulis in 

 Latin, on account of the goodness of its stalks, 

 and from which the English name Cole, Col- 

 wort, or Colewort, is derived. The word Cab- 

 bage, by which all the varieties of this plant 

 are now improperly called, means the firm 

 head or ball that is formed by the leaves turn- 



