CORN SALAD. 327 



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Use. The leaves are eaten as a salad, and are also 

 boiled and served at table in the form of greens or spinach. 

 They may be cut as soon as they have reached a height of 

 five or six inches. 



CORN SALAD. 



Fetticus. Lamb's Lettuce. Valeriana locusta. 



This is a small, hardy, annual plant, said to derive its 

 name from its spontaneous growth, in fields of wheat, in 

 England. It is also indigenous to France and the south of 

 Europe. 



When in flower, or fully grown, it is from twelve to fifteen 

 inches in height. The flowers are small, pale blue ; the 

 seeds are rather small, of a yellowish-brown color, unequally 

 divided by two shallow, lengthwise grooves, and will keep 

 six or eight years. 



Soil and Culture. It is always grown from seed, and 

 flourishes best in good vegetable loam, but will thrive in any 

 tolerably enriched garden soil. Early in April, prepare a 

 bed four feet wide, and of a length according to the quantity 

 of salad required ; having regard to the fact, that it is better 

 to sow only a small quantity at a time. Rake the surface 

 of the bed even, make the rows across the bed about eight 

 inches apart, sow the seed rather thinly, and cover about one 

 fourth of an inch deep with fine, moist soil. If dry weather 

 occurs after sowing, give the bed a good supply of water. 

 When the young plants are two inches high, thin them to 

 four inches apart, and cut or draw for use as soon as the 

 leaves have attained a suitable size. 



As the peculiar value of Corn Salad lies in its remarkable 

 hardiness, a sowing should be made the last of August or be- 

 ginning of September, for use during the winter or early in 

 spring ; but, if the weather is severe, the plants must be pro- 



