20 OKI GIN AND HISTORY OF OUR GARDEN VEGETABLES. 



SALSIFY. 



Tragopogon porrifolius, L., was cultivated much more in the 

 sixteenth and following centuries than to-day. It occurs wild in North 

 and Middle Europe, as well as in Greece, Dalmatia, and Italy. The 

 name is derived from the Italian word sassefrica, evidently the same as 

 saxifraga. 



The sixteenth-century botanists all describe the goafs-beard 

 (T. pratensis, L.) and refer to the Greek names Tragopogon and 

 Come, and the Latin Barba hirci. Dodoens has a figure and adds: 



FIG. 9. TURNIP FORM OF RADISH RAISED BY M. CARRIERS FROM THE 

 WILD RADISH. 



" There are two kinds, one yellow, the other with a purple flower " 

 (1559). Gerard appears to be the first to figure the salsify as T. pur- 

 pureus, purple goafs-beard. He describes both species as having 

 the same medicinal virtues. With regard to the use as a vegetable, 

 he says of the roots: "Boiled in water untill they be tender, and 

 buttered as Parsnips and Carrots are a most pleasant meate and whole- 

 some, in delicate taste farre surpassing either Parsnip or Carrot." 

 Gerard observes though not wild in England it was cultivated " in 

 gardens for the beautie of the flowers, almost every where." 



SCOEZONEBA. 



Scorzonera hispanica, L., or viper's grass, was introduced from 

 Spain in 1576, and Gerard appears to be the first writer who alludes 

 to it. He says : " Viper's grasse is called of the Spaniards Scorzonera, 

 which soundeth in Latine Viperaria, or Viperina, or Serpentaria, so 



