CRUCIFER^. 



47 



seeds in a single row. 

 or pinnatitid. 



globular. Flowers yellow. Lower leaves lyrate 



1. B. oleracea, L. (Cal)bage.) Stem slender, much branched, appearing the 

 second vcar, .sniuutli, from two to three i'eet higli. J^eaf .smooth, glaucous, 

 twenty inches long and tiiree to 

 fifteen wide, the first year grow- 

 ing compactly, forming a m<»re 

 or less solid head, which is the 

 edil)le part; the stem leaves are 

 lyrate below, entire and lanceo- 

 late above. Flowers yellow, and 

 in great profusion, terminal on 

 the l)ranches. Seed-vessels cy- 

 lindrical, and curved. A bien- 

 nial herb. 



Varieties. — This plant sports 

 with great freedom, yet there 

 are a number of well-marked 

 varieties that propagate with 

 considerable constancy. 



In the vicinity of the great 

 Atlantic cities and in Europe 

 there are about a dozen distinct 

 varieties that have become favor- 

 ites with market gardeners and 

 amateurs, arranged under the 

 following heads : — 



The Common or }Vhite Cab- 

 bage, known as Sugar Loaf, 

 Flat Dutch, Drumhead, Savoy, 

 or Wrinkled, etc., etc. 



The Red, or Purple Cabbage, 

 used for pickling, etc. 



CauUJiower, and several 

 others, which have assumed new forms under cultivation. It seems almost 

 a wonder that tliese varieties are so constant as they are. 



In Europe the number of va- 

 rieties is very great. As all 

 plants raised from the seed sport 

 more or less freely, it is no won- 

 der that the cabl)age assumes so 

 many forms. 



There is a perennial variety 

 grown in the Channel Islands, 

 called the cow cabbage, or tree 

 cabbage, or Bore Cole, which 

 reaches the height of ten feet. 

 The leaves are stripped off and 

 fed to cattle, and the stalks are 

 used for bean-poles, canes, etc. 

 Bkassica olekacea (DrmuLeatI Cabbage). (Jtography. — The cabbage ar- 



® 



Capsklla BoRSA-PASTORts (Shepherd's Purse). 



