364 APPENDIX. 



food, and is much used by the Indiana as an article of trade. The 

 Indians search for the roots with their feet, and these, being extracted 

 by their toes, rise to the surface of the water. 



S. S. 3O. YAM. Dioscorea 



A climbing plant, 

 roots are very large, flattened, sometimes palmated. It is boiled or 

 roasted like the potato, and is wholesome, palatable, and nutritious. 

 The flower is also used for puddings and bread. D. alata is equally 

 cultivated; its root is three feet long, and often weighs thirty pounds. 

 Of both kinds there are numerous varieties. 



CLASS II. PULSE, VEGETABLE TOPS, &c. 



31. ARTICHOKE. Cynara scolymus. 



A native of Italy and the south of France. The Globe artichoke is 

 preferred. The flower heads, after the bristles or choke is removed, 

 and while in an immature state, are boiled in water, with a little 

 salt, till tender, and thus eaten ; sometimes they are fried, and used in 

 ragouts ; and while very young, they are used as salads ; at other 

 times, they are pickled. This is not the Jerusalem artichoke, which 

 is a native of Brazil. It is a perennial, and is propagated by offset 

 suckers, separated in April, and three or four are planted in a hill ; 

 the hills in rows four feet asunder, and two feet distance in the row, 

 in a deep, rich soil. They require to be slightly protected by litter 

 in winter. 



32- ASPARAGUS. Asparagus officinalis. 



A perennial plant of the most hardy description. The young 

 sprouts are delicious food boiled. 



1. Large Early Dutch. 3. Graresend. 



2. Battersea. 4. Large White Reading. 



Sow the seeds an inch deep, in spring, and when the plants are 

 a year or two old, plant them in rows fifteen inches asunder, and a 

 foot apart in the row, in a soil made exceedingly rich, to the depth 

 of ten inches. The asparagus, in its native state, is a dwarfish plant, 

 with fibrous roots, which do not go deep ; but to be raised in its 

 greatest perfection, and of a large size, the ground must not only 

 be made rich at first, but kept so by being covered every autumn 

 with a coat of manure, which is to be forked in very early in 

 spring. 



33. BEANS. Phaseolus. 



An annual plant or vine ; a native of the warm latitudes. It 

 rises from two to ten feet, the stalk thick and angular, the leaves 

 pinnate ; the flowers of fragrant odor ; the seeds large, ovate, flat 

 tened enclosed in a long pod. 



