Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 65 



navet for the sake of its root. Lastly, in the raphanus sativus, the 

 same circumstance again appears; the thin roots constantly belong 

 to the many seeded varieties, whilst the thick fleshy roots are em- 

 ployed for culinary purposes only. A similar law may be observed 

 in other cruciferous plants. The cochlearia armoracia (horse- 

 radish,) which has a very large thick root, rarely brings any seeds 

 to perfection, whilst every other species of cochlearia produces 

 them freely ; this observation may be useful to guide cultivators in 

 the choice of the varieties proper to try as oleiferous plants. If 

 taken in a more extensive sense, it may serve to throw some light 

 on the laws of vegetation in general, for we know it is not con- 

 fined to cruciferous plants alone." — Hort. Trans, vol. v. part 1. 

 page 42. 



The cultivated cabbage, brassica oleracea, according to 

 M. Sageret, a correspondent of Mr. Decandolle, a zealous 

 cultivator, presents a singular phenomenon ; that of being in- 

 capable of receiving fecundation from any but its own species. 

 M. Sageret tried in vain the pollen of the brassica campestris 

 oleifera, or colsa, as well as that of every other species of bras- 

 sica ; he then found out that it had a natural tendency to 

 fecundate several other species of cabbages, and even the cul- 

 tivated black radish, but it could not be impregnated by any 

 except its own varieties. The colsa, the chou-navet, or white 

 ruta-baga [Brassica campestris napo-brassica), and the navet- 

 jaune, or common yellow ruta-baga (Brassica campestris napo- 

 brassica, var. ruta-baga), appear to be hybrid products of the 

 cabbage and turnip (Brassica rapa), taken in different degrees 

 of culture and domestication ; they are none of them capable 

 of crossing the true cabbage, but may all become fruitful by 

 its means ; they can produce amongst themselves other cross 

 races, which bring their own seeds to perfection. This man- 

 ner of mixing in artificial breeds, shews that it forms a type 

 sui generis. 



The allied genera which are cultivated for oil plants, are 

 sinapis, camelina, and raphanus. Sinapis alba is cultivated in 

 the Vosges as an oleiferous plant, under the name of navet 

 d'ete, and sometimes it is called grain-de-beurre. The cam- 

 elina sativa (Eng. Bot. 1767.) is cultivated in some provinces 

 under the same name, and next to the true colsa, is the most 

 productive among the oleiferous cruciferous plants. The 

 radishes M. Decandolle divides into three races ; the round, 

 the long, and; the oil-bearing. (See Encijc. of Plant s, gen. 

 Raphanus.) The Raphanus sativus oleifera, is a native of 

 China, and is cultivated in Italy for its seeds. Instructions on 

 the manner of cultivating it, have been published by M. Grandi, 

 in his Istoria Cultura, 1807. 



Vol. I. No. 1. f 



