By M. De Candolle. 



3 



member of the Agricultural Society of Paris, has also sent 

 me the results of his experiments on cross-bred Cabbages, 

 and the ingenious conclusions which he has deduced from 

 them. Lastly, M. Nestler, Professor of Botany at Stras- 

 bourg, where the culture of the oleaginous cruciferous 

 plants is extensive, has obliged me with a few descriptions, 

 and some important remarks, on the distinctions between 

 these plants. 



To these several communications I have added the remarks 

 which occurred from my own observation, having, at different 

 times, visited most of the countries where these plants are 

 cultivated; besides which, I have particularly attended to 

 the specimens grown in the Botanic Garden at Geneva, 

 where, from the kindness of Messrs. Vilmorin and Audi- 

 bert, few of the known varieties of Cabbages have escaped 

 my notice : and I consider it no little advantage to have seen 

 them produced under the same climate, at the same time, 

 and in the same ground, from seeds which had been collected 

 from various countries. 



Five species of Brassica* have particularly attracted my 

 attention ; the oleracea, campestris, Ilapa, Napus, and pree- 

 cox ; these I shall successively submit to examination, by 

 describing the characters, history, and peculiar varieties of 

 each. 



First Species. BRASSICA OLERACEA. 

 Among the different species of an extensive genus, the 

 cultivated Cabbage is particularly distinguished by its herba- 

 ceous and biennial stalk, by its leaves being covered with a 



* See De Candolle, Reg. Veg. Syst. Nat. Vol. ii. page 582. 



