CRUCIFER.E, OR TURNIP TRIBE. 37* 



Cauliflower, and Brocoli, are well-known forms, departing more 

 or less from the orginal stock, the Brassica oleracea or Sea- 

 colewort, which may be found growing wild on the cliffs, near 

 the shores of the greatest part of South Britain, bearing a few 

 small scattered leaves and meagre blossoms. In the Cauliflower, 

 the part most prized as food consists of the flower-stalks, which 

 are enlarged and become succulent under cultivation ; when cut 

 for the table, the flowers have not expanded. Some varietie? of 

 the Cabbage attain a great size. The Palm-kale, which is exten- 

 sively cultivated in the Channel islands, grows to the height of 

 10 or 12 feet, the stem being very much elongated and bearing 

 leaves only at its summit, so as to give the plant very much the 

 aspect of a Palm ; the inner bud is tender and palatable, and the 

 outer leaves are given as fodder to Cattle. The Tree-kale or 

 Caesarean Cow-cabbage, is said to grow to the height of 16 feet, 

 in some parts of France, where it is cultivated for the same 

 purpose. 



533. The Sea-Kale is obtained from another marine species, 

 the Crambe maritima ; the young shoots of which have, time 

 out of mind, been collected by peasants, and eaten as a pot- 

 herb ; but which has only within a recent period become a cheap 

 and common vegetable. In order to prevent it from becoming 

 rank, by the too-abundant formation of its peculiar bitter secre- 

 tion, and stringy, by the production of too many woody bundles, 

 it is necessary to grow it almost in darkness (. 362) ; and this 

 is commonly effected by heaping up earth around the young 

 shoots. A species of Brassica nearly allied to the Turnip, is 

 that which furnishes the Rape-seed, from which a large quantity 

 of oil is obtained by pressure ; whilst the remaining fleshy sub- 

 stance, known under the name of oil-cake, is a very nutritious 

 food for cattle. In all the seeds of Cruciferae, there is a ten- 

 densy to the deposition of a fixed oil in the cells (. 371) ; and 

 this deposite is greatly increased by cultivation in the seeds of 

 this and other species. 



534. Among other well-known British species of this order 

 may be mentioned the numerous kinds of Mustard, Cress, 

 Scurvy-grass, Horse-radish, Pepper-wort, and Lady's Smock, 



