ON PLANTS IN RELATION TO ANIMALS. 
165 
Sub-genus II.—EU-BRASSICA. 
Sepals erect, glabrous. Seeds sub-globular, arranged in 
a single row down the middle of the pod. 
Of the mustard division we have the three following im¬ 
portant species: 
1. Brassica Sinapistrum (Sinapis arvensis, Linn.). Char¬ 
lock mustard. 
2. B. alba (Sinapis alba, Linn.). White mustard. 
3. B. nigra (Sinapis nigra, Linn.). Black mustard. 
1. The Charlock is well known as a disagreeable weed, 
which for the last two wet seasons the farmer has found it 
next to impossible to exterminate. It is, however, no bad 
pot-herb, and from our own experience with the young shoots 
of Charlock boiled and eaten as greens, we have found them 
to be very agreeable and wholesome. Whenever the heads 
are so taken off, it prevents the full seeding of the plants; 
and therefore the operation is very desirable, even if not 
used as food ; and for this purpose we know of no better 
implement than the Norwegian “ Koldmoos weeder,” which 
we used last year with very marked effect. 
When the plant seeds in a crop, the cavings should be 
very carefully looked after; it is better by far to burn the 
whole of them than to run the risk of a further propagation 
of the pest. There are, however, not wanting purchasers 
for the seed of the Charlock ; but farmers should refuse to 
sell it, as the object of the purchasers is either to use the 
seed for the dilution of turnip seed, or to crush it with rape 
or other seed cakes, in which state it is highly deleterious 
to the cattle which partake of it. 
2. The white mustard is well known as a salad-herb. It 
is also grown for its seeds to form the condiment known as 
mustard. In some districts it is largely grown as a green 
food for sheep, and sometimes indeed it may be grown to a good 
size, to be ploughed in as a soiling manure. It is probably 
in this way that white mustard has got to track agrarian 
fields ; for it is doubtful, though it is found here and there 
in arable districts, whether it is really a true native. 
3. The black mustard has a differently formed siliqua from 
the others, as it is smallest and more or less quandrangular. 
It is a common form by rivers and water-courses, and it is 
supposed that the grand black mustard plants on the Severn 
yielded the seeds, which, mixed with other sorts, gave the 
peculiar pungency referred to in the Shakespearian line, 
LIU. 
“ As hot as Tewkesbury Mustard.” 
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