In My Vicarage Garden 



stamens surrounding but lying under the ovaries 

 or ovary, and it is a large family containing more 

 than 500 species, and is remarkable for the abun- 

 dance of plants produced in almost every one of 

 the species, and every genus and every species of 

 the family is more or less poisonous to man ; every 

 individual in the family bears upon it a sure 

 signature that it is not good for food ; and that 

 every preparation made from it must be used with 

 caution. 



Another family is as clearly marked and as 

 easily recognised — the great family of the Cruci- 

 ferae, with its four petals always arranged in the 

 form of a cross and no bracts, has over 1200 

 species, and it contains many of the plants most 

 useful for human food — the turnip, radish, cabbage, 

 cress, seakale, mustard, and many others, all be- 

 long to this family; and we are not surprised to 

 find that the old herbalists easily recognised this 

 peculiar character, and that the old emblem-writers 

 seized upon it to enforce the lesson of " in cruce 

 salus." 



Another large and important family, equally 

 well-marked for good, and as easy to distinguish, 

 is the family of the Labiates — alwa;^s with square 

 stems, opposite leaves, and irregular flowers. No 

 family is more easily recognised, and as a further 

 help the aromatic scent of the plants will give 

 a sure sign, for throughout the whole family, 

 numbering 2600 species, I believe there is not 

 one species without this fine aromatic scent either 

 124 



