356 ON OLEAGINOUS PLANTS, 



Azote is found in this family alone, and it communicates 

 to the vegetables a strong flavor and often an offensive 

 smell. The various species of cabbages belong to it, such 

 as the common cabbage, the curled cabbage, broccoli, 

 cauliflowers, turnips, radishes, water-cresses, and sea-kale. 

 Caroline. Do you include turnips and radishes among 

 the species of cabbages ? 



Mrs. B. Their leaves and blossoms are of the same 

 description ; but the appearance of the vegetables on ta- 

 ble, I confess, is totally different ; and no wonder, for in 

 the one it is the leaves we eat, in the two others the roots. 

 Caroline. The leaves of the turnip, it is true, would 

 be too strong and pungent for our palate. They are rel- 

 ished by sheep and cattle ; and the root, which is more 

 delicate from not being exposed to the light, is better 

 suited to our taste. 



Emily. The roots of radishes are, however, so strong- 

 ly flavored, as to be disagreeable, unless eaten very 

 young. In the cauliflower it is the blossom, and not the 

 leaves, that we eat. 



Mrs. B. The head of the cauliflower has, it is true, 

 much the appearance of a blossom, but it consists only 

 of numerous ramifications of the peduncles, or flower- 

 stalks, which not having sufficient space to grow in, ad- 

 here together, and form the white mass which we esteem 

 as a very favorite dish of vegetable food. 



Emily. But the cauliflower is rather of an insipid than 

 of a pungent nature, and requires salt to season it. 



Mrs. B. Its flavor is not strong if the head only 

 be eaten ; but the smell and taste of the water in which 

 it is boiled is extremely offensive, and that of the vegeta- 

 ble itself is often unpleasant, when served at table. 



Emily. I know scarcely any odor more disagreeable 

 than that proceeding from a plantation of decayed cab- 

 bages, in which the azote is fully developed. 



Mrs. B. When the cauliflower is allowed to attain its 

 natural growth, or, as the gardeners express it, is left to 

 run to seed, the flower-stalks lengthen and spread, and the 



1931. Of azote what is said ; and of the various species of cabbages 

 named'? 1932. Caroline asks, if turnips and radishes are included 

 among the species of cabbage what is the answerl 1933. Of the 

 head of the cauliflower what is said! 1934. And of the flavor of it 

 also, of the water in which it is boiled 1 1935. When it runs to seed 

 what is said of it! 



