158 NEW PLANTS, ETC., 



a view to obtain seeds. A common melon-bed and frame, made 

 sufficiently high inside for the plants attaining from one foot to 

 one foot and a half in height, would be a suitable place for 

 growing them in. The earth, rich and light, should be about 

 three-quarters of a foot in depth, and the upper part of the fer- 

 menting materials in an advanced state of decomposition, to afford 

 nourishment to the roots penetrating through the earth, which 

 would greatly add to the luxuriance of their growth. The plants 

 might be pricked out to about six inches distance from each 

 other. As much sunshine is not wanted, it might be serviceable, 

 in an unbroken succession of bright weather, to throw a thin 

 light cloth over the glass during part of the day, to soften the 

 intensity of the sun's light. The circumstance of a deficiency of 

 sunshine or clear weather being rather advantageous than pre- 

 judicial, is favourable for the forcing of this vegetable in the 

 early part of the year, when the weather is generally so uncertain 

 and gloomy ; and as it may be brouglit forward in the short space 

 of a month or little more, a constant succession may be readily 

 kept up by the xise of only two frames. Of seed, I consider an 

 ample supply might be obtained from one or two plants raised in 

 April or May, which being allowed to perfect their growth and 

 gradually enured to a drier atmosphere, would ripen their seeds 

 in September or October. 



" Tliis plant is used as a vegetable for the table in ttvo ways : 

 1st, the plants are pulled up and cut off just above the roots ; the 

 leaves are plucked off and dressed like spinach and other spi- 

 naceous plants, in which respect they are not inferior to any kind 

 I am acquainted with. 2nd, the stems and side-branches (being 

 the white parts of the plant) are separated from each otiier, cut 

 into proper lengths, boiled, and placed on toast like asparagus, 

 or simply in a dish, and eaten with meat, either with butter-sauce 

 or meat gravy. They form a very elegant dish, and their invit- 

 ing appearance is sustained by their succulency and tenderness to 

 the taste, though possessing no particular flavour ; and in my 

 opinion they bear a favourable comparison with asparagus and 

 sea-kale. In summer I consider this vegetable would be found 

 very grateful. 



" To acclimate this vegetable by successively raising from fresh 

 seeds, ripened under circumstances progressively approximating 

 the climate of England, would not, I think, be difficult ; and my 

 reasons for inferring^that it might soon become adapted for 

 ordinary garden culture in warm and sheltered situations are, 

 that the plant is hardy and belongs to a genus of plants which 

 are well known to be all of easy culture — that its period of 

 culture for the table is comprehended in little more a month, for 

 which therefore there is ample scope in the summer months — 



