374 SALAD PLANTS. 



when much developed, they become strong, rank, and ill- 

 flavored. 



For a succession, a small sowing may be made every week 

 until September. 



In field culture, the seeds are sometimes sown broadcast, 

 but the more common method is to sow in drills fifteen or 

 eighteen inches apart. When the crop is ready for harvest- 

 ing, the plants are cut to the ground, stored and threshed, as 

 directed for Black Mustard. 



Use. The plants, before the development of the rough 

 leaves, are used as salad ; when more advanced, they are 

 boiled and eaten as Spinach. The flour of the seeds 

 furnishes a table mustard of good quality, though the 

 seeds of the Black species possess greater piquancy, and 

 are generally employed for the purpose. The seeds of 

 both species are much used in medicine, and are con- 

 sidered equally efficacious. 



NASTURTIUM. 

 Indian Cress. Capucine, of the French. Tropseolum, sp. et var. 



This plant is a native of Peru, and, though generally 

 treated as an annual, is a tender perennial. When culti- 

 vated for its flowers or seeds, it should be planted in poor, 

 light soil ; but when foliage and luxuriant growth are desired, 

 for the covering of arbors, trellises, and the like, the soil 

 can hardly be made too rich. 



The planting should be made in April or May. As the 

 seeds are quite large, they should be covered two inches 

 deep. When planted in drills, they are made three feet 

 apart, and the young plants thinned to six inches apart in 

 the drills. The growing crop may be supported by staking 

 or bushing, as practised with peas, or the taller-growing 



