3050 



SALAD PLANTS 



SALIX 



SALAD PLANTS are those with soft and edible 

 leaves or stems, or both, that may be used raw or in 

 the preparation of uncooked dishes. 



The principal salad plant in America is 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 and Forcing. Next 

 to lettuce the best-known salad plant in this country 



3522. Pistillate cat- 

 kin of Saliz discolor. 



(Natural size.) 



3521. Stamina te catkin 

 of Saliz discolor. 



(Natural size.) 



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 com- 

 mon dandelion should be mentioned in this category. 

 When forced and blanched it makes a salad fit for the 

 most cultivated epicure. For ordinary home cultiva- 

 tion 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. 

 Chives is used by many persons as an ingredient of let- 

 tuce and other salads; also young onions. Many other 

 plants are used in various places and by various persons 

 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, and the like. With 

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

 The plants especially to be mentioned in this category 

 are swiss chard, beet-tops, spinach, kale, endive, wit- 

 loof 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 necessary for 

 the same reasons. F A WAUGH< 



SALIC6RNIA (Latin, salt and horn; saline plants 

 with horn-like branches). Chenopodiacese. GLASSWORT. 

 MARSH SAMPHIRE. A group of about 12 widely scat- 

 tered species of leafless seashore herbs, hardy or tender, 

 annual or perennial. This and other chenopods which 

 grow in large quantities in the Medit. region 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 regularly in cult, and have no 

 horticultural interest. 



SALISBURIA: Ginkgo. 



SALIX (ancient Latin name of willow). Salicacese. 

 WILLOW. Dioecious trees and shrubs, planted for the 

 foliage and interesting habit, for shade, screens, and 

 cover; flowers in catkins, mostly in spring and in many 

 species very early. 



Erect, or some arctic and alpine species prostrate, 

 glabrous, pubescent or tomentpse: Ivs. simple, alter- 

 nate, mostly elongated and pointed, the stipules per- 

 sistent and prominent or caducous: buds with a single 

 bud-scale: fls. in lax scaly spikes (aments or catkins), 

 each fl. subtended by a single entire scale and nearly or 

 quite destitute of perianth; the staminate fl. with 1, 2, or 

 3-6 stamens; the pistillate fl. of a single pistil composed 

 of 2 carpels and 2 more or less divided stigmas; at matu- 

 rity the pistil dehisces, setting free the small appendaged 

 seeds. Species and species-like hybrids probably 300, 

 widely spread in the northern hemisphere and a few in 

 the southern hemisphere; no native species are reported 

 in New Zeal, and Austral. In temperate regions, they 

 are mostly plants of water-courses, shores, and swamps; 

 but a good number run into the far N. and the high 

 elevations where conditions of moisture are maintained. 

 The wood is light, soft, and porous. For the stami- 

 nate and pistillate fls. of willow, see Fig. 1528, Vol. 

 III. The catkins or "pussies" are also shown in Figs. 

 3521 and 3522 herewith. In rare cases, a willow may 

 be monoecious. 



Many hybrids have been described based on speci- 

 mens found in nature that presented characters inter- 

 mediate between recognized species. Artificial hybrids 

 have also been made between many species. The dice- 

 cious habit of the species seems to facilitate cross- 

 pollination, and it is probable that the intermediate 

 forms so frequently met with and designated in the 

 monographs as varieties are natural hybrids. Upward 

 of one hundred hybrid willows have been described as 



3523. White willow on a stream, holding the bank from 

 washing. (See No. 7.) 



growing in Europe. Although as many or even more 

 species occur in America, fewer hybrids have been 

 detected here. The hybrids described as growing in 

 America are for the most part between native species 

 and those introduced from Europe. Because of the 

 hybridity and the fact that the sexes are separated, the 

 genus Salix is considered to be very critical and difficult 

 for the systematist. 



