A MANUAL OF BOTANY 59 



are especially good plants for study, as they may commonly 

 be obtained in large quantities in early spring (April 1- 

 May 15). 



Mustard family characters. The Mustard family has these 

 characteristics : (a) herbs with spicy juice ; (b) flowers 

 commonly in racemes ; (c) four sepals and petals ; (d) six 

 stamens; (e) one pistil; (/) in fruit a pod, long or short. 



The plant and flowers. Study the plant for its roots, 

 leaves, and inflorescence. Examine the flower and deter- 

 mine the number and color of each group of parts. Com- 

 pare with characterization given above. Examine in 

 particular the stamens. Are the six all of one pattern, or 

 do you find a difference in size and length ? 



Are the flowers especially attractive to insects on account 

 of their size, color, or odor, or may these plants depend on 

 wind for pollination ? 



Draw a flowering branch, a single flower, and the flower 

 plan. 



Uses of family. Name a number of garden flowers belong- 

 ing to this family, and also as many vegetables you find 

 that belong here. Taste the leaves, and observe that many 

 plants of the Mustard family abound in a hot, spicy juice. 

 Name some that have this quality. 



If you know any market gardens, what per cent of their 

 land area is occupied by vegetables of this family ? 



If cabbages average 6 in. in diameter, and are 2 ft. apart 

 each way, how many would an acre produce ? At 5 ^ a head, 

 what would they be worth ? 



Test a cabbage for its food value. Estimate in particular 

 the amount of water it contains. Are they wholesome or not ? 



Where is the native home of these Mustard family vegeta- 

 bles ? What is the life duration of most of them ? Where 

 do they store their excess of food material ? 



Compare cabbage, turnip, and kohl-rabi seed with mus- 

 tard. Examine radish seed. 



