SKIRRET 



SKIRRET (Sium sisarum) is a plant cultivated for its 

 roots, rarely seen in British gardens. It is a perennial 

 plant, a native of China and Japan, and in those countries 

 it is esteemed 

 and much used 

 for food. The 

 edible portion, 

 the root, has a 

 very peculiar 

 taste and it takes 

 some time to get 

 used to it, but 

 this occurs with 

 other vege- 

 tables. The 

 roots are pre- 

 pared in the 

 same way as 

 Scorzonera and 

 Salsify, but I 

 do not think 

 them equal as 

 regards quality 

 to those last 

 named. The plant is raised mostly from seed, but it 

 may also be propagated much in the same way as Seakale, 

 that is by root cuttings, but these must have a bud or 

 eye, and at the planting the cutting must be placed under 

 the soil. 



95 



(One-twenty-fifth natural size ; detached roots, 

 one-eighth natural size) 



