210 GENERAL REVIEW. 



a good strain from degenerating, change of soil and extreme 

 dare in selecting typical or perfect seed-bearing plants are 

 absolutely essential. Although the Cabbage is a native of 

 England, it appears the cultivated or succulent-leaved hearting 

 form was first brought to our gardens from Flanders ; and the 

 Brussels Sprout, as indicated by its name, originated in the 

 neighbourhood of Brussels, whence, until very recently, our 

 main supply of the best seed was obtained. 



Brassica (Cabbage). This is the most important of all the 

 species in this group, and is a native of Britain, as also of other 

 parts of Europe. The wild maritime plant is very different 

 from some of its numerous forms and races ; but Professor 

 Buckman found that seed obtained from the true wild Brassica 

 oleracea from the rocky coast of Llandudno, N. Wales, gave 

 very diverse progeny, with both red and green foliage when 

 cultivated ; and the same author also found that when Rape 

 and common white Turnips were grown together and allowed 

 to seed, a proportion of the produce has been malformed 

 Swedish Turnips, which became much improved in quality by 

 careful cultivation. Nearly all the forms are treated as annuals 

 for food purposes, and as biennials when seed is required. 

 Seed is abundantly produced, but isolation is necessary to 

 prevent deterioration by interbreeding. It is a singular fact 

 that nearly all the forms of Cabbage and Kales are of better 

 flavour after having experienced a sharp frost or two. 



For a valuable memoir on the races, varieties, and sub- 

 varieties of the Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), see ' Trans. 

 Hort Soc.,' 1821-24, v. i, by M. A. P. de Candolle, who 

 describes the following six races as its descendants : ist 

 race, Brassica oleracea sylvestris, or Wild Cabbage; 2d race, 

 B. oleracea acephala, Tall or Open-headed Cabbage; 3d race, 

 B. oleracea bullata, Savoy or Blistered Cabbage ; 4th race, 

 B. oleracea capitata, Round-headed Cabbage ; 5th race, B. 

 oleracea caulo-rapa, Chou-rave or Turnip Cabbage ; 6th race, 

 B. oleracea botrytis, Broccoli, Cauliflower, or Flowering 

 Cabbage. The second species or type is B. campestris, or 

 Field Cabbage, of which he describes the following races : ist 

 race, B. campestris oleifera, Colza; 2d race, B. campestris 

 palmaria, intermediate between the last and the 3d race, B. 

 campestris napo Brassica, or Chon-navet. Third species or type, 

 B. rapa, or Turnip : ist race, B. rapa depressa, Common 

 Round Turnip; 2d race, B. rapa oblonga, Long Turnip; 3d 

 race, B. rapa oleifera, Wild or Oil-giving Turnip. Fourth 

 species or type, B. napus ; i st race, B. napus oleifera, or 



