The flowers, as I have said, have in all of them four petals placed crosswise. The calyx also consists of four oblong and hollow leaves. There is a single pistil, standing upon a seed-bud, which, turns either into a long pod, or a short round one called a pouch; and hence are formed the two great branches of the family, the podded and the pouched. The seed-vessel has two valves, or external openings, with a partition between. The seeds are small and roundish, attached alternately to both sutures or joinings of the valves. Do you observe all these circumstances?
Geo. and Har. We do.
Tut. You shall examine them more minutely in a larger plant of the kind. Further, almost all these plants have somewhat of a biting taste, and also a disagreeable smell in their leaves, especially when decayed. A turnip-field, you know, smells but indifferently; and cabbage, which is one of this class, is apt to be remarkably offensive.
Har. Yes, there is nothing worse than rotten cabbage-leaves.
Geo. And the very water in which they are boiled is enough to scent a whole house.
Tut. The flowers, however, of almost all the family are fragrant, and some remarkably so. What do you think of wall-flowers, and stocks?
Har. What, are they of this kind?
Tut. Yes—and so is candy-tuft, and rocket.
Har. Then they are not to be despised.
Tut. No—and especially as not one of the whole class, I believe, is poisonous; but, on the contrary, many of them afford good food for man and beast. Shall I tell you about the principal of them?