1598 



SAINTPAULIA 



SALIX 



few-fld. cjnnes: sepals 5-7, linear, obtuse, erect, green; 

 corolla sub-rotate, the tube shorter than the sepals; 

 limb 2-lipped, the upper lip 2-lobed, and much the 

 smaller, the lower spreading, all lobes rounded, con- 

 cave, ciliolate; stamens 2, inserted in the contracted 

 mouth of the tube; filaments short, stout: ovary ovoid, 

 hirsute; stj-le filiform; stigma purple: seeds many, 

 very miniite. One of the choicest of blue winter-flovrer- 

 ing plants. First bloomed in cult, in 189.'?. 



/ '^' 



2227. Saintpaulia iona-aha iX 3^). 

 A young plant just coming into bloom. 



iondntha, Herm. Wendl. African Violet. Usam- 

 BARA Violet. Fig. 2227. B.M. 7408. Gn. 47:1002. 

 A.G. 16:3G9. R.B. 20:109. K.H. 1893, p. 321. G.M. 37: 

 62. G.C. III. 13:085. Century Book of Gardening, 311. 

 — Of its propagation and culture G. W. Oliver says: 

 "The end of March is a good time to propagate, when 

 the ripened leaves should be cut off with about an inch 

 of the stalk attached, and inserted in the sand bed, cov- 

 ering only a small part of the leaf-blade. The sand 

 should not be kept too wet during the process of root- 

 ing. Their propagation from seed and general culture 

 is similar to that of Gloxinia. The plants may be flow- 

 ered the entire year or given a period of rest by partly 

 withholding water." p_ ^ Barclay. 



SALAD PLANTS. The principal salad plant in 

 America is the lettuce, which is used exclusively, but 

 not always expertly, for salads. For full directions for 

 growing lettuce in the garden and under glass, see 

 Lettuce. Next to lettuce the best known salati plant in 

 this country is probably endive, which is excellent, 

 especially when well-blanched plants are to be had in 

 the winter. Chicory is much like endive, as regards its 

 treatment either in the garden or in the salad dish. Like 

 endive, it is frequently seen in the larger city markets. 

 The common dandelion should be mentioned in this 

 category. When forced and blanched it makes a salad 

 fit for the most cultivated epicure. For ordinary home 

 cultivation and use, however, the common garden cress 

 (Lepidium sativum, not water cress, nor upland cress) 

 ranks next to lettuce in value. Its rapid growth and 

 high flavor equally recommend it. This plant is said to 

 be a great favorite in English gardens and forcing 

 houses, where it is grown in mixture with white mustard 

 and is pulled very young and eaten roots and all. Corn 

 salad is another plant sometimes grown in gardens and 

 used for salad-making. It is most acceptable to those 

 who do not relish the pungency of mustard and cress. 

 Gives is used by many people as an ingredient of let- 

 tuce and other salads; also young onions. Many other 

 plants are used in various places and by various per- 

 sons for salads. 



Besides the salad plants proper, many vegetables are 

 ■used in a cooked or raw condition for salads. Such are 

 cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, potatoes, lima 

 beans, beets, Jerusalem artichoke, etc. With salad 

 plants may also be included pot-herbs, or "greens." 



The plants especially to be mentioned in this cate- 

 gory are Swiss chard, beet tops, spinach, kale, endive, 

 and mustard. Many other plants find occasional or 

 local favor. See Greens. 



The only general cultural directions which can be 

 given for salad plants are that blanching is often desir- 

 able and a quick unchecked growth is always a requisite. 

 An abundance of rapidly available fertilizer and plenty 

 of water are therefore to be insisted on. A warm, 

 light soil, in the best mechanical condition, is nec- 

 essary for the same reasons. p_ ^ Waugh 



SALIC6RNIA (Latin, salt and Iwrn; saline plants 

 with horn-like branches). Chenopodiiicece. Glass- 

 wort. Marsh Samphire. A genus of about 8 widely 

 scattered species of leafless seashore herbs, hardy or 

 tender, annual or perennial. This and other chenopods 

 which grow in large quantities in the Mediterranean re- 

 gion were formerly used in making soap and glass, as 

 they yield a large percentage of soda. The ashes of such 

 plants were known to the trade as barilla. The species 

 have probably never been in cultivation and have no 

 horticultural interest. 



SALISBURIA. See Ginkgo. 



SALIX (ancient Latin name of widow). Salie&eece. 

 Willow. A genus of trees and shrubs characterized 

 by simple Ivs.: bads with a single bud-scale: Ivs. ia 

 lax scaly spikes (aments) : the fls. subtended by a single 

 entii-e scale and nearly or quite destitute of perianth; 

 the staminate fl. with 1, 2, or 3-6 stamens; the pistil- 

 late fl. of a single pistil composed of 2 carpels and 2 

 more or less divided stigmas; at maturity the pistil 

 dehisces, setting free the small appendaged seeds. 

 The Mood is light, soft and diffuse porous. For the 

 staminate and pistillate flowers of Willow, see Figs. 831 

 and 833, Vol. II. The catkins or "pussies" are also 

 shown in Figs. 2228 and 2229 herewith. 



The role that the Willow plays in the north temper- 

 ate regions is to a certain extent analogous to that 

 of the Eucalyptus in subtropical regions in that it 

 flourishes in wet ground and absorbs and transpires 

 immense quantities of water. It has been used to plant 

 around cesspools for sanitary effect. But while most 

 of the species occur spontaneously in wet ground or 

 along stream banks, the Willows may be cultivated in 

 various situations. The White Willow (S. alba) has 

 been used very effectively to fix stream banks against 

 erosion. Figs. 2230, 2231. Its root system is very 

 extensive and when well established withstands the 

 effect of heavy rapid streams as well as wave action. 



All species are readily propagated by cuttings. It 

 has been suggested that the brittleness at base of twigs 

 of some species, notably the Black Willow (S. nigra), 



2228. Staminate catkin 

 of Salix discolor. 



Natural size. 



2229. Pistillate cat- 

 kin of Salix dis- 

 color. Natural size. 



is an adaptation to facilitate naturally the distribution 

 of the species. Certain it is that twigs broken from 

 the tree by the wind are carried down streams and, be- 

 coming anchored in the muddy banks, grow there. It is 

 one of the most aggressive trees in occupying such 

 places. 



