674 A DORNA CEO US ESCULENTS. 



The Anise (Tragium sativum, Spr.) is an annual, a native of Egypt, 

 sometimes cultivated in gardens for the same purposes as the coriander. 



The Dill (Anethum graveolens, L.) is an umbelliferous biennial, a 

 native of Spain, the leaves of which are occasionally used in soups and 

 sauces, and to put along with pickles, especially cucumbers. Two or 

 three plants will be enough for any family. It is easily propagated by 

 division or by seeds. 



The Fennel (Anethum Foeniculum, L.) is an umbelliferous perennial, 

 resembling the dill, but considerably larger, a native of the south of 

 Europe, and very generally cultivated in gardens for the stalks and 

 leaves. The leaves, boiled, enter into many fish-sauces, and, raw, form 

 a beautiful garnish ; the tender stalks are used raw in salads ; and the 

 blanched stalks of the variety called finocchio are eaten with oil, 

 vinegar, and pepper, as a cod-salad ; and they are likewise put into soups. 

 Three or four plants of the common fennel are sufficient for any 

 garden. The finocchio may be grown in rows in light, rich soil, and 

 earthed up to the height of five inches or six inches, to blanch the 

 stalks. This blanching will be effected in ten days or a fortnight ; and 

 by cutting down a few plants at a time during summer, a succession 

 of young shoots will be produced, which, being blanched, will afford a 

 supply from June till December. The soil ought to be calcareous, dry, 

 and rich, and watered in very dry weather. 



The Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus, L.) is an anthemideous 

 perennial, a native of Siberia, cultivated for its leaves and the points of 

 its shoots as an ingredient in salads, soups, stews, pickles, arid other 

 compositions. By infusion, the stalks and leaves make tarragon 

 vinegar, which is considered 0ne of the best condiments for fish. Tar- 

 ragon is propagated by division or by seed, and grown in rows eighteen 

 inches apart, and six inches distant in the row. The soil in which it 

 is grown should be dry and calcareous ; otherwise the plants will be 

 comparatively without flavour, and be apt to perish in a severe winter. 

 It is easily forced by transferring a few plants to the hotbed or hot- 

 house ; and the stems may be gathered just before they are coming 

 into flower, dried, compressed into small packets, and put up in paper. 



Substitutes for the tarragon are to be found in the Achillea serrata, 

 E. B., and the Tagetes lucida, Cav. ; in the latter plant more especially. 

 The former is much used in Nottinghamshire, under the name of 

 sweet mace. Achillea nana, L., and several dwarf species of Artemisia 

 are used for the same purpose in the Alps. 



The Purslane (Portulaca oleracea, L.j is a portulaceous annual, with 

 succulent leaves and procumbent stems, a native of South America, 

 and cultivated for its young shoots and succulent leaves as ingredients 

 in spring and summer salads, and as pot-herbs and pickles. There are 

 two sorts, considered as distinct species, the green and the golden ; the 

 latter is more showy as a garnish, but the former is more succulent as 

 a salad. Where a constant supply is required, the first sowing should 

 be made on heat in February, and the others monthly, on a warm 

 border till August. The shoots are gathered for use when they are 

 from two inches to five inches in height, and well furnished with 



