CABBAGE. 43 



bed, at six inches, plant from plant. They are also 

 readily propagated by parting the roots early in the 

 spring. 



10. CABBAGE. BRASSICA. 



We are now come to the head of a most widely- 

 cultivated genus, from which the varieties of bras- 

 sica, before and hereafter named, are supposed to 

 have proceeded. 



The cabbage is one of our most ancient and salu- 

 brious vegetables ; and as an esculent, it stands in 

 the highest estimation. 



Brassica is supposed by some to be derived from 

 a Greek word, signifying to devour, because it is 

 eagerly eaten by cattle. Linnaeus derives it from 

 the same word, and, rightly rendering it to boil, 

 supposes the plant was so called from its being a 

 common pot-herb. 



The word cabbage, by which all the varieties of 

 this plant are now improperly called, means the 

 firm head or ball that is formed by the leaves turn- 

 ing close over each other ; from that circumstance 

 we say the cole has cabbaged, the lettuce has cab- 

 baged, or the tailor has cabbaged, which last means 

 the rolling up pieces of cloth, instead of the list 

 and shreds, which tailors claim as their due. 



Like all other cultivated plants, the cabbage has 

 gradually undergone so many changes, and assumed 

 so many permanent varieties, that it is not easy to 

 form a description which will apply to the whole. 

 Great improvements have been made in this ex- 

 cellent vegetable since the beginning of the last 



