38 ESCULENT HOOTS. 



The plants are tender, and are generally destroyed early 

 in autumn by frost. The tubers must be taken up before 

 freezing weather, packed in sand, and placed in a dry, warm 

 cellar for the winter. 



Deppe'sOxal- A perennial plant from Mexico, very distinct 



is. Thomp. Vil. 



OXALIS DEPPEI. from the tuberous-rooted species before described. 

 Stalk about one foot in height, smooth and branching ; leaves 

 four together, the leaflets wedge-shaped, pale yellowish-green, 

 the upper surface marked by two brownish lines or stains in 

 the form of two sides of a triangle ; flowers terminal, of a 

 carmine-rose or pink-red color, stained with green at the base 

 of the petals. The roots are fusiform, three or four inches 

 long, nearly an inch and a half in diameter, white and fleshy, 

 and surmounted with numerous small scales or bulbs, which 

 serve for propagation. 



Soil and Culture. The plant succeeds best in rich, 

 warm, mellow soil ; and, though it may be raised from seed, 

 is usually propagated from the small bulbs, which are set 

 early in May, six or eight inches apart, in shallow drills 

 fifteen inches asunder. 



As the whole season will be required for their full perfec- 

 tion, the roots should be allowed to remain in the ground 

 till danger from freezing, when they should be harvested, 

 packed in dry sand, and stored in the cellar for the winter. 



The plant has been cultivated with the most complete suc- 

 cess with no especial preparation of the soil ; merely plant- 

 ing the bulbs in shallow drills, the ground being dug and 

 manured as for other kitchen-garden crops. 



Use. The roots are eaten boiled, and served as aspara- 

 gus ; and the young leaves, which have a pleasant acid taste, 

 are used as salad, as are also the flowers. 



It is sometimes cultivated as an ornamental plant. 



