ared the flowers of all the
principal kinds; those of the Couve Tronchuda are white and rather
smaller than in common cabbages; those of the Portsmouth broccoli have
narrower sepals, and smaller, less elongated petals; and in no other
cabbage could any difference be detected. With respect to the
seed-pods, in the purple Kohlrabi alone, {324} do they differ, being a
little longer and narrower than usual. I made a collection of the seeds
of twenty-eight different kinds, and most of them were
undistinguishable; when there was any difference it was excessively
slight; thus, the seeds of various broccolis and cauliflowers, when
seen in mass, are a little redder; those of the early green Ulm savoy
are rather smaller; and those of the Breda kail slightly larger than
usual, but not larger than the seeds of the wild cabbage from the coast
of Wales. What a contrast in the amount of difference is presented if,
on the one hand, we compare the leaves and stems of the various kinds
of cabbage with their flowers, pods, and seeds, and on the other hand
the corresponding parts in the varieties of maize and wheat! The
explanation is obvious; the seeds alone are valued in our cereals, and
their variations have been selected; whereas the seeds, seed-pods, and
flowers have been utterly neglected in the cabbage, whilst many useful
variations in their leaves and stems have been noticed and preserved
from an extremely remote period, for cabbages were cultivated by the
old Celts.[582]

It would be useless to give a classified description[583] of the
numerous races, sub-races, and varieties of the cabbage; but it may be
mentioned that Dr. Lindley has lately proposed[584] a system founded on
the state of development of the terminal and lateral leaf-buds, and of
the flower-buds. Thus, I. All the leaf-buds active and open, as in the
wild-cabbage, kail, &c. II. All the leaf-buds active, but forming
heads, as in Brussel-sprouts, &c. III. Terminal leaf-bud alone active,
forming a head as in common cabbages, savoys, &c. IV. Terminal leaf-bud
alone active and open, with most of the flowers abortive and succulent,
as in the cauliflower and broccoli. V. All the leaf-buds active and
open, with most of the flowers abortive and succulent, as in the
sprouting-broccoli. This latter variety is a new one, and bears the
same r