98 THE BOOK OF RARER VEGETABLES 



a trial, and had over a dozen named kinds, British and 

 foreign ; some were very much alike, but the best was 

 certainly the Belleville and the Green Mountain. The 

 chief difficulty with some of the small forms is their 

 tendency to run to seed, and when this takes place the 

 plant does not furnish good leaves, so that it will be 

 seen the more it is cut and used the better for the plant, 

 and in all cases the seed stems should be removed as 



COMMON BROAD-LEAVED FRENCH SORREL 



(One-sixth natural size) 



soon as they appear. At one time Sorrel was grown in 

 the large market gardens near London much more than 

 at the present day. This is not surprising, as with 

 more gardens the tendency is to grow what may be 

 termed popular vegetables, and Sorrel requires more care 

 in gathering and packing than many other vegetables. 

 It was much used in the spring many years ago, but I 

 have frequently been over large gardens where the 

 plant was not grown. In addition to its use as a 

 vegetable, it makes an excellent addition to the salad 

 bowl. It may be lifted and gently forced under 

 glass, and supplies had much earlier in the season if 

 grown thus. 



