THE MUSTARD TREE. 
185 
Moderate bottom-heat is an important requisite, but care must be taken that this 
is not very strong, either over moist or over dry; as an average, about 70° is suffi- 
cient, with moisture to prevent the roots becoming parched. 
During the spring season, give plenty of air, and only a moderate degree of heat. 
The chief growth takes place during July, August, and September. The flowering 
season of most of the species takes place betwixt November and April. In winter 
the plants require more heat, especially at the roots, than is generally given to the 
stove ; by this means the wood becomes hardened and the plants are able to perfect 
their flowering buds, and thus success may be safely anticipated. 
Syringe and water freely during the time of vigorous growth ; give a liberal 
supply at the roots during the season of flowering, and occasionally supply with thin 
liquid manure ; whilst the plants are in torpidity keep them rather dry than other- 
wise, especially over their tops ; when the fruit swell, also treat liberally with water 
and liquid manure ; but curtail the quantity on the fruit approaching ripeness ; this 
will insure a good flavour. 
THE MUSTARD TREE. 
How various have been the conjectures respecting the Mustard tree of the 
ancients, and, until a few years ago, how little was with certainty known. The 
greater portion of readers believed it to be either the same plant grown by us under 
the name of Mustard, or some other species of the genus, a native of Eastern 
countries, assuming a tree-like size on account of the fineness of the climate, and 
the peculiar richness of the soil. The species which have been selected by different 
persons as the probable ones are as follows : — - 
The Persian Mustard (Sinapis Eaber). — A yellow flowering annual, common 
throughout Persia and Syria, growing about eighteen inches or two feet high, and 
flowering in June and July. Introduced to this country about thirty years ago. 
The Oriental Mustard (Sinapis orientalis). — This is also an annual, growing 
abundantly in most Eastern countries, after the manner of our Charlock or Kedlock 
(Sinapis arvensis). It produces its yellow flowers in June, will attain the height of 
two feet or more, and was introduced in 1778. 
The Egyptian Mustard (Sinapis turgida). — This species is distributed through- 
out Egypt and all the neighbouring countries, and has been thought to be the kind 
mentioned by the writers of the Talmud as becoming sufficiently lofty and spreading 
to cover a tent, and also growing into a large branching herb sufficiently strong to 
bear the weight of a man. It is only an annual, however, bearing yellow flowers, 
and usually growing about three feet in height, although under peculiar circumstances 
it will grow much higher. It was introduced to this country in 1819. 
The Tree Mustard (Sinapis fruticosa). — A small semi-shrubby species, usually 
growing from eighteen inches to two feet high, and under favourable circumstances 
VOL. XV. NO. CLXXVI. B B 
