AVA, STATISTICS OF THE ORDER CRUCIFERA. 
of stray plants accidentally left in the ground is a circumstance 
of common occurrence. 
The great bulk of the Crucifere has no very considerable extent 
of vertical range; yet we think it is, at least for the agrarial an- 
-nuals of the Order, co-extensive with cultivation. We venture 
to assert that Sinapis arvensis and Shepherd’s Purse, with pro- 
bably Sisymbrium thalianum, will follow the footsteps of man, and 
establish themselves with better things in the tracts of land which 
hereclaims. Thlaspi arvense and Lepidium campestre, which reach 
to about three hundred yards, are probably limited, both horizon- 
tally and vertically, by certain idiosyncrasies of the plants them- 
selves ; in fine, it has been shown that some of the species of this 
large Order may be gathered in Britain at any season from the 
departure of winter to its return; also, that some of them grow _ 
everywhere,—in our streets, gardens, on our walls, roofs, in mea- 
dows and ponds, by the seashore and on the lofty mountain, in 
the hedge (not common), in the wood, and on the heathy common 
(Teesdalia). We have not seen any of them on heathy, moory, 
wet ground. Is Cardamine pratensis or C. hirsuta ever seen in 
such habitats? One of them, Subularia aquatica, grows under 
water in alpine lakes, as in North Wales and in other mountainous 
districts; but most of them are to be found in more aceessible 
places than Highland lochs and crags are; and though many of 
them are very local, yet where they do grow they grow plenti- 
fully. Whether they be annual or perennial, wherever they esta- 
blish themselves they are to be found in considerable force, as the 
geologists say of rocks that abound in certain formations. Is 
this peculiarity of the Crucifere owing to the oleaginous nature 
of their seeds? Are the seeds of these plants capable of resisting 
atmospheric influences a longer time than other seeds? and is 
this their tenacity of life attributable to their oleaginous proper- 
ties? In this country we obtain all our vegetables (par excellence) 
from this Order. The Potato is scarcely considered as a vege- 
table, but rather as a substitute for bread. .The almost infinite 
varieties of our Cabbages, Savoys, Cauliflowers, Brocoli, Brussels 
Sprouts, Curly Kail, Scotch Kale, and all the named and name- 
less varieties of Coleworts, with Sea Kale, are found in this Order. 
The stimulating condiments, Mustard, Horseradish, and various 
sorts of Cress, are obtained from species or varieties of the same 
extensive Family. Their antiscorbutic qualities are also well 
