372 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



generally distributed. However, Mr Cheeseman informs me that the 

 plant recorded in Hooker's list of 1864, and in Kirk's list of Great 

 Barrier plants in 1867, as Erysimum officinale, is this species. 



(FL, Nov. to Jan.; but in cultivated land flowers all the year 

 round.) 



In Europe the honey-bee (Apis mellificd) occasionally visits this 

 flower; I have not noticed it in New Zealand. 



Sisymbrium pannonicum, Jacquin 



According to Kirk 1869 this species was introduced into the 

 Auckland district along with European flax. If so, it failed to establish 

 itself. 



Camelina sativa, Crantz. Gold of Pleasure 



Recorded in 1882 by Cheeseman as occurring in one or two 

 places near Auckland. Also by Petrie from Oamaru. In the Manual 

 it is said to occur rarely in cultivated fields in both islands. The seeds 

 become mucilaginous on the surface when wet. (Fl., Dec. to Jan.) 



Erassica oleracea, Linn. Wild Cabbage 



Captain Cook, on arriving in Dusky Sound in the 'Resolution' 

 early in 1773, during his second voyage to New Zealand, cleared a 

 piece of garden ground and "sowed a quantity of European garden 

 seeds of the best kinds." Cabbage was almost certainly among them 

 but probably none of the plants established themselves. Later in 

 the year Captain Furneaux arrived in the 'Adventure' in Queen 

 Charlotte Sound, and made a garden on Motuaro, in which, among 

 other seeds, cabbage was sown. Captain Cook followed in May, 1773, 

 and made other gardens on Long Island. On returning in November 

 he says: "I crossed to Ship Cove next day and visited the gardens. 

 I found cabbages, carrots, onions and parsley in excellent condition." 

 The Sound was visited in October, 1774, when he says : "We likewise 

 visited the cabbage-garden on Motu-Aro, and found the plants shot 

 into seed, which had been for the greatest part consumed by the birds." 

 These were probably the parakeets. 



On the third voyage, Captain Cook again visited Queen Charlotte 

 Sound, and though the gardens were "over-run with the weeds of 

 the country, we found cabbages," etc. 



From this centre the cabbage has spread round the coasts of 

 New Zealand, but there is no doubt the Maoris helped to distribute it. 



Commander Bellingshausen, who visited Motuaro in 1820, says: 

 "we gathered such a quantity of wild cabbage that we had sufficient 

 for one meal of cabbage soup for all the servants and the officers." 



