DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



391 



cultivation, except the ground be of u dry oalcar 

 reous nature. In rioh damp soils it acquires a 

 rank taste, and i> Leas sweet and agreeable as an 

 article of diet, than when grown on poor land. 

 In its natural habitat, the root is small and fibrous, 

 not unlike the common dandelion, (Leontodoa ta- 

 raxacum) but even in this si ale is very lrrana- 

 ceous. 



Sea kale — (Crambe mar Mm a.) This plant is 

 wonderfully improved by cultivation, although it 

 i- used in its wild state by the people on the west- 

 ern shores of Britain, where it is plentiful; but in 

 its wild state, it requires no small effort to over- 

 come its aeid and disagreeable taste. It is nev- 

 ertheless much used, and when out as it springs 

 through the sand, is considered little inferior to 

 asparagus. It springs up generally among sand 

 or gravel, but thrives best where the sand is mix- 

 ed with alluvial matter, and occasionally watered 

 with the saline spray ; hence in cultivating this 

 vegetable in gardens, it is advisable to make the 

 ground to resemble in some degree its natural 

 habitat ! The carrot, (Dacus curota.) This 

 plant is indigenious to Britain, and is found grow- 

 ing in irreat abundance by the way-sides and hedg- 

 es ; but so very different is it from the cultivated 

 varieties, that it is doubted by some whether it be 

 in reality the prototype of sorts now grown in our 

 gardens. It is probable that our cultivated car- 

 rots are a distinct species, although many are of 

 opinion, that they are merely varieties of the Da- 

 cus carota. The former opinion seems supported 

 by the fact, that the wild species has defied all 

 attempts to improve it by cultivation, but this is 

 no conclusive evidence of its being a distinct spe- 

 cies from the others. 



Beet is found in a wild state in some parts of 

 the south of Europe; but no more like the beet 

 grown in our gardens, than the potatoes of Chili 

 are to the fine farinaceous roots of present cul- 

 ture. So much have these roots improved in size 

 and quality, that their original species is lost sight 

 of. 



In the Leguminous family we observe the same 

 improvement in its products. So much is the com- 

 mon pea (Pisum sativum) changed from its ori- 

 ginal condition, that the species from which it 

 sprung, or even its native country, is unknown. 

 At a very early period it formed a staple article 

 of human food, for which it was admirably adapt- 

 ed, since it contains fifty-seven and a half per 

 cent, of nutritive matter. The pea therefore is 

 an invaluable vegetable on account of its nutritive 

 qualities, and ought to find a place in every gar- 

 den. It might be asked, can nothing more be 

 done to render this family of plants more prolific, 

 earlier, hardier, and higher flavored. 



The Lactuoa, are a tribe of plants very much 

 circumscribed in their value, and capable of being 

 much more extensively used. Whether the com- 

 mon lettuce of our gardens be one of the three 

 species indigenous to Britain, is unknown ; it is 

 certainly, much changed from the lactuca virosa, 



to which it bears sonic resemblance. But even 

 within the last few years, this regetable has been 

 much improved ■ A vegetable has lately been 

 introduced from China, under die name of ,: Hoo- 

 sung," somewhat resembling a lettuce, but which 

 genera of the Ciclwracea it belongs to, I have 

 had no means of determining j mosl probably a 

 Lactuca, to which it has a strong affinity. I grew 

 some of this vegetable during the past season, but 

 when sent to the table, it was rejected as worth- 

 less. I am convinced however, this was owing to 

 its being too old before it was used, and also to 

 its being improperly cooked, as I have eaten it at 

 the table of a friend, when it was considered equal 

 and even superior to asparagus. It should be 

 grown early, and rapidly, on rich soil, and used 

 in a young state, i. e. before the stalk has attained 

 a hard and fibrous texture. A shady, cool spot 

 is the best, where it will not be effected by the 

 mid-day sun. Like all the lettuce family, it be- 

 comes exceedingly acrid when grown under the 

 warm sun. I think it may yet become a 

 useful vegetable, and has the merit of being easy 

 grown and very productive. I believe Dr. Wen- 

 dell and others have grown it during the past sea- 

 son. Their further experience upon it would be 

 desirable. 



In reference to the foregoing plants, it cannot 

 be affirmed that they are incapable of further im- 

 provement, and that further attempts to improve 

 them would be hopeless; and even were it so — 

 which it assuredly is not — there is still a very wide 

 field of usefulness among other classes of plants, 

 which, though not less susceptible of improvement, 

 have hitherto been wholly neglected. Our prede- 

 cessors, as I have here shown, have by their skill 

 and industry reared up a valuable assortment of 

 useful vegetables, and it is upon us who have 

 succeeded them, that devolves the privilege, — 

 and I may say, the obligation — to cany onward 

 this improvement, for most assuredly the resour- 

 ces of nature are far from being exhausted. The 

 hybridization of the most of our common vegeta- 

 bles is an exceedingly easy process, and the grat- 

 ification of producing something new, is of itseli 

 a sufficient compensation for the trouble which it 

 costs. R. B. Leuchars. 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Wash for Cottages. — H. Ely, (Elyria, 0.) 

 French Blue is not, perhaps, to be had, except in 

 the large cities. To make the ,: gray-stone co- 

 lour," you may, instead, add to the whitewash 

 burnt amber and lampblack; but the lampblack 

 must first be well dissolved in alcohol, or it will 

 not mix freely with the whitewash. 



Privet Hedges. — M. S., (Poughkeepsie, N. Y.) 

 No hedgo is so easily raised as this. Cuttings 

 grow with great readiness, if planted early in 

 April; but the must durable hedge is obtained by 

 raising the plants from seed, which may bo plant- 

 ed either in the fall or spring. Any good garden 



