Vegetables 



261 



introduced into Britain in 1633. Though usually considered to ,be a half-hardy annual and 

 treated as such in gardens, it is really a tender perennial, having tuberous roots. 



Common Kidney or French Bean (P-haseoltis vulgaris), is of uncertain "origin, probably 

 Asiatic, and is very generally cultivated in Europe and other temperate climes. As the 

 result of long cultivation many varieties have originated, some dwarf in habit, others tall ; 

 in some it is the seeds that are valued, in others the pods. In this country it is the young 

 green pods which are most valued as a vegetable. 



THE CABBAGE FAMILY 



This family comprises some of the most ancient of culinary vegetables ; they are rich in 

 sulphur, and possess antiscorbutic properties. The cabbage is found in a wild state in 

 various parts of Europe and in southern England, always on maritime cliffs. It. is a 

 biennial, with fleshy lobed leaves covered with a glaucous bloom ; altogether so different in 

 form and appearance from the cabbage of our gardens that few would believe it could 

 possibly have been the parent of so varied a progeny as are comprised in the Savoy, Brussels 

 Sprouts, Cauliflower, Broccoli, and other numerous varieties. 



The Common or Cultivated Cabbage is well known, and from a very early period has 

 been a favourite culinary vegetable in almost daily use throughout the civilised world. 



The Savoy Cabbage differs but little from other hearting cabbages. It is chiefly 

 distinguished by its leaves being wrinkled in such a manner as to have a netted appearance. 



Brussels Sprouts, or Bud-bearing 

 Cabbage (B. oleracea bullata minor), 

 originated in Belgium, and has been 

 cultivated around Brussels from time 

 immemorial, although it is only within 

 the last fifty years that it has become 

 generally known in this country. 



Borecole (B. oleracea acephala) has 

 every appearance of being one of the 

 early removes from the original species. 

 It is distinguished by its leaves being 

 ^beautifully cut and curled, of a green 

 or purple colour, or variegated with 

 red, green, and yellow, never closing 

 so as to form a heart, nor producing 

 edible flower heads like a Cauliflower. 



Couve Tronchuda or Portugal 

 Cabbage (B. oleracea costata) is a 

 variety peculiar to Trauxuda, in Por- 

 tugal, from whence it was introduced 

 in 1821 to Britain. This is a singular 

 cabbage with much thickened midribs 

 which, when thoroughly boiled, make 

 an excellent vegetable for serving up 

 after the manner of Seakale. 



The Cauliflower {B. oleracea botrytis 

 cauliflora) is of great antiquity, but its 

 origin is unknown, although it is usually 

 ascribed to Italy. It was introduced 



tO Britain during the Sixteenth Century. By permission of Messrs. Sutton & Sons, Reading 



In the cauliflower it is not the leaves chili and capsicum 



