372 CRUCIFERJ2, OS TURNIP TRIBE. 



or Bitter Cress. Of this last kind, the common meadow species 

 (Cardamine pratensis) has a considerable tendency to become 

 double ; and when its power of reproduction is thus impaired, it 

 has a very curious mode of compensation. The leaflets, whilst 

 still in connection with the parent plant, will strike root into the 

 ground, wherever they come into contact with it ; and from each 

 a new plant may arise. The Isatls sativa, from which the blue 

 dye wood is obtained (. 390), is another native species of this 

 order. 



535. The plants of this order are more abundant in Europe 

 than in any other quarter of the globe ; and a very large pro- 

 portion of them are natives of the temperate zones. Their gene- 

 ral character is to possess in some degree acrid and stimulating 

 qualities, such as we meet with in the Mustard, Cress, Radish, 

 Horse-Radish, Pepperwort, &c. When this acrid secretion is 

 dispersed, however, through a large amount of fleshy tissue, as 

 in the Turnip, Cabbage, &c., it does not prevent the plants from 

 being palatable as well as wholesome food. None of this order 

 can be said to be poisonous ; and most of the species it contains 

 are very useful remedies for a most distressing malady, the 

 Scurvy, which was formerly not unfrequent in this country, when 

 all but the highest classes fed upon salt meat during the greatest 

 part of the year ; and which has been, until the late improve- 

 ments in the provisioning of ships, a most dreadful scourge to 

 the crews of vessels undertaking long voyages. The name 

 Scurvy-grass, by which the genus Cochlearia is commonly 

 known, shows the estimation in which it was formerly held in 

 this country, as a remedy for this disease ; and other species are 

 still more efficacious. There could scarcely, perhaps, be men- 

 tioned a more striking illustration of the practical utility of 

 which the Natural System may be rendered, than a fact which 

 occurred at the beginning of the last century. During Lord 

 Anson's voyage round the world, a very large proportion of his 

 crew either lost their lives, or were rendered unfit for service, by 

 the Scurvy ; and although new and unknown lands, teeming with 

 luxurious vegetation, were constantly being discovered, the 

 dread which the surgeon entertained of the men being poisoned 



