AND CULINARY VEGETABLES. 357 



blossoms are developed at their extremities. Broccoli is 

 of a similar nature : the pedunculi amalgamate and form 

 a head; but it is of a green color, because not so closely 

 enveloped in leaves and sheltered from the light as the 

 cauli-flower. The small tender grain which is deposited 

 upon it, consists of the embryo of blossoms which can- 

 not be developed, owing to the quantity of nourishment 

 of which the stalks deprive them. 



The Leguminous family affords us four species of cu- 

 linary vegetable, peas, beans, lentiles, and kidney-beans; 

 of some of these we eat only the seeds; in others, such 

 as the kidney-bean and sugar-pea, the pod or pericarp 

 are also eaten. 



The family of Cucurbitacee supplies us with cucumbers, 

 pumpkins, and melons : the two first are rather arbitrari- 

 ly denied the name of fruit, and are ranked as culinary 

 vegetables, merely on acconnt of the saccharine princi- 

 ple not being developed in them. 



This family is distinguished by a bitter principle con- 

 tained in one of its species, the Colocinth : it is so 

 strong as to be taken only medicinally. 



From the Umbelliferous family we obtain carrots, pars- 

 ley, lettuces, and hemlock. The narcotic principle exists 

 throughout this fcmily : in hemlock it is so powerful as 

 to constitute a poison ; but in most of the other species, 

 it exists in such small quantities as not to be deleterious. 



The family of Solanum gives us the Potatoe, Tomata, 

 and the Belladonna, celebrated for the poison it contains. 



Caroline. And yet nearly akin to the potatoe, which 

 is of so innocent a nature ! 



Mrs. B. That is true of the tubercle we eat, but the 

 fruit of the plant is of an acrid nature : you may proba- 

 bly have been warned, in your childhood, of the poison- 

 ous properties of the small green tubercles which grow 

 on the branches. 



The family of Fungi supplies us with the mushroom, a 

 vegetable of a most delicate and exquisite flavor ; but as 



1936. Of Broccoli what is said! 1937. What four species of cu- 

 linary vegetables does the Leguminous family afford us! 1938. With 

 what does the family of Cucurbitaca? furnish us, and what is said of 

 them! 1939. How is this family distinguished! 1940. What is 

 said of the Umbelliferous family, and with what does it furnish usl 

 1941. Of the family of Solanum what is said! 1942. What ac- 

 count is given of tho mushroom.' 



