288 SPINACEOUS PLANTS. 



poorest soil of the garden, without cutting the leaves. The 

 seeds will ripen successively, and should be gathered as they 

 mature. 



Use. It is cooked and served in the same manner as 

 Common Spinach. 



There are no described varieties. 



ORACH. 



Arrach. French Spinach. Mountain Spinach. Atriplex 

 hortensis. 



Orach is a hardy, annual plant, with an erect, branching 

 stern, varying in height from two to four feet, according to 

 the variety. The leaves are variously shaped, but somewhat 

 oblong, comparatively thin in texture, and slightly acid to the 

 taste ; the flowers are small and obscure, greenish or red- 

 dish, corresponding in a degree with the color of the foliage 

 of the plant; the seeds are small, black, and surrounded 

 with a thin, pale yellow membrane ; they retain their 

 vitality three years. 



Soil and Culture. It is raised from seed sown annually. 

 As its excellence depends on the size and succulent character 

 of the leaves, Orach is always best when grown in a rich, 

 deep, and moist soil. The first sowing may be made as soon 

 in spring as the ground is in proper condition ; afterwards, 

 for a succession, sowings may be made, at intervals of two 

 weeks, until June. 



"When the ground has been thoroughly dug over, and the 

 surface made fine and smooth, sow the seed in drills eighteen 

 inches or two feet apart, and cover three fourths of an inch 

 deep. When the young plants are two or three inches high, 

 thin them to ten or twelve inches apart, and cultivate in the 

 usual manner. Orach is sometimes transplanted, but gener- 



