52 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Brahea dulcis, Martius. 



Mexico, as far as its northern parts, and ascending to three thousand 

 (3,000) feet. A Brahea Palm has also been discovered as far north 

 as Arizona, 32 (Drude). 



Brahea edulis, Wendland. 



Lower California, 20 feet high. The clusters of plum-shaped fruits 

 weigh up to 40 Ibs., and are eaten by domestic animals. 



Brassica alba, Visiani. (Sinapis alba, Linne.) 



White Mustard. Europe, North Africa, North and Middle Asia. 

 AJI annual. The seeds are less pungent than those of the Black 

 Mustard, but used in a similar manner. The young leaves of both 

 are useful as a culinary antiscorbutic salad. Can be used with 

 great advantage as green manure and suppresses weeds simul- 

 taneously. (W. Emerson Mclvor). The cold-pressed oil of 

 mustard-seed serves for table use. Dr. Masters enumerates Brassica 

 Chinensis, B. dichotoma, B. Pekinensis, B. ramosa, and B. glauca 

 among the mustards which undergo cultivation in various parts of 

 Asia, either for the fixed oil of their seeds or for their herbage. 

 From 15 Ibs. to 20 Ibs. of seeds of the White Mustard are required 

 for an acre. In the climate of California 1,400 Ibs. of seeds have 

 been gathered % from an acre. Can be grown in shallow soil, even 

 on land recently reclaimed from swamps. It prefers argillaceous 

 ground. The return is in a few months. The stalks and foliage 

 after the seed-harvest serve as sheep-fodder. 



Brassica Chinensis, Linn. 



China and Japan. Serves like B. oleracea for cabbage, and may in 

 cultivation produce new varieties. The seeds in Japan 

 extensively pressed for oil. B. Cretica (Lam.), is a woody Mediter- 

 ranean species. 



Brassica juncea, J. Hook and Thorns. (B. Willdenowii, ~Bois$.-, Sinapis 

 juncea, Linne.) 



From Middle Africa to China. According to Colonel Drury 

 cultivated all all over India for Sarepta Mustard seeds ; also a good 

 salad plant. 



Brassica nigra, Koch. (Sinapis nigra, Linne.) 



The Black Mustard. Europe, North Africa, Middle Asia. An 

 annual. The seeds simply crushed and then sifted constitute the 

 mustard of commerce. For medicinal purposes the seeds of this 

 species are preferable for sinapisin and other purposes. In rich 

 soil this plant is very prolific ; and in our forest-valleys it is likely 



