Garden Vegetables from the Sea-coast 99 



name is the Greek for " sea-cabbage, cale, cole or cole-wort." 

 It is a glaucous-green, glabrous plant, with a branched stem 

 about two feet high. The flowers are white, in loose panicles. 



The Carrot (Daucus ■ cavota) was introduced, in the cultivated 

 state, into this country by the Flemings, in the time of Queen 

 Elizabeth. It is common in pastures on calcareous soils, 

 inland as well as near the coast. The concave umbel of 

 white flowers is very distinctive. 



The Sea Cabbage (Brassica olevacea) may be found on the 

 cliffs of the south and west coasts. It is the stock from 

 which our cultivated cabbages, kale, cauliflower, and other 

 sub-varieties are descended. The red cabbage will revert in 

 a few generations to the primitive form, if neglected in 

 gardens by the sea. The generic name is derived from 

 bresic, the Celtic for cabbage. The stock is thick, almost 

 woody. It branches into erect stems one to two feet high. 

 The leaves are large, lobed and glaucous. The pale yellow 

 flowers resemble those of the wild mustard or charlock. 



It is of interest to note respecting all these, that although 

 they appear to have been first developed under the influence 

 of the moist and salt-laden atmosphere of the coast, they are 

 by no means dependant upon it. Under cultivation they have 

 been grown with great success in inland positions. It does not 

 follow, however, that they may not still be induced to show 

 some superiority as regards flavour, &c, when produced under 

 their pristine conditions. 



List of Mammals which have taken to the Sea. 



Cetacea. — Whales, dolphins, porpoises. Sirenia. — Dugong, 

 manatee, sea cow. » Carmvova. — Walrus, seals, sea otter, 

 Arctic bear. Thus we have animals of widely differing 

 relationships which have assumed the same peculiar habits. 

 Only the whales take to the open sea. The others are 

 shore-livers, but neither whales nor sirens ever leave the 

 water. 



