Book I. SCORZONERA, SALSIFY. 633 



5743. By seed. " Sow between the21st of March and the 15th of April ; a fortnight later rather than any 

 earlier for a full crop, as plants raised forward in spring are apt to start for seed in summer. Sow on an 

 open compartment of light ground, in small drills eight inches apart. When the plants are one or two 

 inches high, thin them to five or six inches asunder. They will enlarge in growth till the end of autumn : 

 but before the roots are full grown, in August, September, or October, some may be taken up for con- 

 sumption as wanted : those left to reach maturity will continue good for use throughout winter, and in 

 spring, till the stems run." 



3744. By slips. " Having some plants of last year's raising, furnished with root-offsets, slip them off; 

 taking only the young outward slips, and not leaving any of the larger old roots adhering to the detached 

 offsets : which plant by dibble, in rows from six to nine inches asunder. They will soon strike, and en- 

 large, and divide into offsets : which, as well as the main roots, are eatable and come in for use in 

 proper season.' 



3745. To save seed. Leave some old plants in the spring : they will shoot up stalks, 

 and ripen seed in autumn. 



Subsect. 8. Scorzonera, or Vipers Grass. — Scorzonera Hispanica, L. (Lam. III. 

 t. 647. f. 5.) Syng. Polyg. JEqu. L. and Cichoracece, J. Scorzonere, or Salsajis 

 d? Espagne, Fr. ; Scorzonere, Ger. ; and Scorzonera, Ital. 



3746. Tlie scorzonera is a hardy perennial, a native of Spain, the south of France, and 

 Italy, cultivated in this country since 1576. The stem rises two or three feet high, with 

 a few embracing leaves, and is branched at top ; the lower leaves are linear, eight or 

 nine inches long, and end in a sharp point ; the flowers are yellow, and appear from 

 June to August. The root is carrot-shaped, about the thickness of one's finger ; taper- 

 ing gradually to a fine point, and thus bearing some resemblance to the body of a viper. 



3747. Use. The outer rind being scraped off, the root is steeped in water, in order to 

 abstract a part of its bitter flavor. It is then boiled or stewed in the manner of carrots 

 or parsneps. The roots are fit for use in August, and continue good till the following 

 spring. 



3748. Culture. " To have an annual supply, sow every year ; for although the plant, as to its vegetable 

 life, be perennial, the root continuing only one season useful, must be treated merely as a biennial. The 

 quantity of seed for a bed four feet and a half by ten feet, to be sown in drills fifteen inches asunder, is 

 one ounce. Sow every spring, at the end of March, or in April : follow with a secondary sowing in May. 

 This root likes a deep, light soil. Allot an open compartment. Sow either broad-cast, and rake in evenly ; 

 or in small drills, twelve or fifteen inches asunder, and earth over half an inch or an inch deep. When 

 the young plants are two or three inches high, thin them to six or eight inches' distance. Clear out all 

 weeds as they advance in growth. The plants having a free increase all summer, the roots will, some of 

 them, be of a moderate size to begin taking up in August, others in September, but will not attain full 

 growth till the end of October, when, and during the winter, they may be used as wanted ; or some may 

 be dug up in November, and preserved in sand under cover, to be ready when the weather is severe. The 

 plants left in the ground continue useful all winter till the spring ; then those remaining undrawn, shoot 

 to stalk in April and May, and become unfit for the table." 



3749. To save seed. " Leave some old plants in the spring ; which will shoot up in 

 tall stems, and produce ripe seed in autumn." (Abercrombie.) 



Subsect. 9. Salsify, or Purple Goafs Beard. — Tragopogon porrifolius, L. (Eng. Pot. 

 638.) Syng. Polyg. JEqu. L. and Cichoracece, J. SalsipZs, Fr. ; Pocksbart, Ger. ; 

 and Sassifica, Ital. 



3750. The salsify is a hardy biennial, a native of England, but not very common. The 

 root is long and tapering, of a fleshy white substance ; the herb smooth, glaucous, and 

 rising three or four feet high. The leaves, as the trivial name imports, resemble those of 

 the leek ; the flowers are of a dull purple color, closing soon after mid-day ; the seed, as 

 in other species of goat's beard, is remarkable for having attached to it a broad feathery 

 crown. It has taken place in gardens of the T. pratensis, which was cultivated in Ger- 

 rard's and Parkinson's time, but is now entirely neglected. 



3751. Use. The roots are boiled or stewed like carrots, and have a mild, sweetish 

 flavor; the stalks of year-old plants are sometimes cut in the spring, when about four or 

 five inches high, and dressed like asparagus. 



3752. Culture. " Salsify is raised from seed, annually, in the spring, and for thirty feet of drill, one 

 ounce of seed is sufficient. Allot an open situation. The soil should be light and mellow, full two' spits 

 deep, that the long tap-root may run down straight. Sow in March, April, and in May, for first and suc- 

 cession crops, either broad-cast in beds, and rake in the seed, or in small drills, eight or ten inches asun- 

 der. The plants are to remain where sown. When they are two or three inches high, thin them about 

 six inches apart. In the dry hot weather of summer, water now and then till the ground be soaked. 

 The roots having attained a tolerable size in August and September, may be taken up occasionally for 

 .present use. Those remaining, perfect their growth in October, for a more general supply ; and will 

 continue good all winter, and part of the following spring. For winter use, take up a portion before frost 

 hardens the ground, and preserve in sand. Such year-old plants as remain undrawn in the following 

 spring, shoot up with thick, fleshy, tender stalks: these are occasionally gathered young to boil; the 

 roots continuing good till the plant runs to stalk in April or May." 



3753. To save seed. " Leave or transplant some of the old plants in spring ; which 

 will shoot, and produce ripe seed in autumn." (Abercrombie.) 



