SORREL 



THERE are several kinds of Sorrel, and they are 

 mostly perennials, the one that is probably best known 

 being the Common Garden Sorrel that is so plentiful in 

 fields. There are others somewhat similar. The Belleville 

 is a cultivated French variety, and an excellent garden 

 Sorrel. This is superior to our common form, and there is 

 another of French origin having blistered leaves. This 

 latter is grown largely on the continent, as it is the last 

 to run to seed ; the common British form is bad in this 

 respect. Tbe Roman or Round-leaved Sorrel (Rumex 

 scutatus) is a hardy perennial much grown abroad ; this 

 has a trailing stem, and is from 12 to 1 8 inches in height, 

 having heart-shaped leaves, glaucous and smooth, which 

 are more acid than those of the other species, and this 

 by many persons is much liked, as for flavouring or in a 

 cooked state as a green vegetable it makes a more 

 palatable dish. There is also the Mountain Sorrel of 

 the French (R. montanus] and the Oseille Vierge, a 

 smaller form, and these do not run so quickly to seed as 

 our varieties. The leaves of the last named have a pale 

 green colour and are less acid, but the Oseille Vierge 

 verte liste is the reverse in this respect, and the Green 

 Mountain variety has larger leafage of a dark green 

 colour, which are produced earlier in the spring and is 

 the last to run to seed, so that it is a desirable garden 

 variety. The Messrs Vilmorin of Paris give the 

 larger Belleville as the best variety, and there is no 

 doubt but that it is a good garden variety, though there 

 are others on the continent under diverse names that are 

 well worth attention. At one time I gave this vegetable 

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