519 TWENTY-THIRD EVENING.

longer chives were more complete and efficacious than
the two shorter; which, however, we do not know te
be the case. This superior length of four chives is
conspicuous in most plants of this tribe, but not in all.
They have, however, other resemblances which are
sufficient to constitute them a natural family; and
accordingly all botanists have made them such.

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 along pod, ora 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 jomings of the valves.

Do you observe all these circumstances ? |

G. and H. We do.

T. You shall examine them more minutely in a
larger plant of the kind. Further, almost all of these
plants have somewhat of a biting taste, and also a dis-
agreeable 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.

Hf, Yes—There is nothing more unpleasant than
rotten cabbage-leaves.

G. And the very water in which they are boiled is
enough to scent a whole house.

Z. The flowers, however, of almost all the family are
fragrant, and some remarkably so. What do you think
of wallflowers and stocks P

H. What, are they of this kind P

7, Yes—and so is candy-tuft, and rocket.

Hf, Then they are not to be despised.

7. No—and especially as not one of the whole class,
I believe, is poisonous; but, on the contrary, many of
them afferd good food for man and beast. Shall T tel}
you abcut the principal of them ?