92 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



Origin of the Cut-leaved Sumac. — In extensive dec- 

 orative plantings one may occasionally find a shrub that is 

 evidently a sumac, but with leaves so fern-like as to make the 

 plant quite unlike any native species. According to Parks 

 Floral Magazine, however, this cut-leaved form is merely a 

 sport from one of our common sumacs and was found some 

 years ago growing wild in Chester County, Pa. It is said to 

 be seedless but is easily propagated from root-cuttings. Now 

 and then nature inspires some plant to put forth something 

 new, and if the new form happens to be useful for decoration 

 or for food, it may make a fortune for the discoverer. Sev- 

 eral of the cultivated blackberries are simply especially luscious 

 forms of the common wild species, and the well-known con- 

 cord grape is also a sport of a native vine. 



Dandelions as Food. — As a nation we have not yet tak- 

 en up the cultivation of the dandelion in earnest — possibly be- 

 cause it grows with us all too freely without cultivation — but 

 this despised weed seems to be steadily gaining ground as an 

 edible and in the Old World is frequently cultivated. In the 

 markets of our larger cities the cultivated dandelion is often 

 exposed for sale while in smaller towns the plants that grow 

 so profusely in waste grounds are not disdained. Dandelion 

 greens furnish many a healthful meal to the foreign part of 

 our population every spring. But even in so apparently sim- 

 ple a matter as cooking dandelions there seems to be some 

 tricks. The majority simply cut off the leaves, wash them 

 and cook until tender. A better way is to select the large 

 plants and after digging remove most of the green part of the 

 leaves and all of the root except just enough to hold the 

 leaves together. The lower part of the leaves are blanched 

 from being in the ground and are sweet and tender. They 

 should be washed thoroughly, parboiled for a few minutes and 

 then cooked as usual. They may be served with mayonnaise 



