KITCHEN-GARDENING. 95 



high, else the young plants will not have sufficient room to 

 push upwards. 



MUSTARD. 



MOUTARDE. Sinapis. 



The Alba, or "White Mustard, grows spontaneously in the 

 fields of England ; it is also cultivated as a small salad, as 

 well as for seed. The seed yields from every hundred pounds, 

 from thirty-three to thirty-six pounds of sweet, mild oil. 



White Mustard Seed is much used as a medicine, and per- 

 sons subject to disordered stomachs often derive great benefit 

 by taking a spoonful of the dry seed two or three times a day. 

 Some use it in pickles, to which it imparts an agreeable flavor, 

 and renders Cucumbers, in particular, more salutary. 



The Nigra, or Common Mustard, is also a native of Eng- 

 land. The condiment called Mustard, and in daily use at our 

 table, is prepared from the seed of this species. The seed of 

 each variety may be sown in clean, rich ground in April and 

 May ; and for a fall salad in September, in shallow drills. 



MUSHROOMS. 



HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE GOOD FROM THE POISONOUS. 



The Agaricus is said to be the most extensive genus in the 

 vegetable kingdom. The species are determined upon various 

 principles. As some of the kinds are poisonous, it is necessary 

 to describe the eatable Mushroom. Loudon says, it is most 

 readily distinguished when of a middle size, by its fine pink 

 or flesh-colored gills, and pleasant smell. In a more advanced 

 age, the gills become of a chocolate color, and it is then more 

 apt to be confounded with other kinds of doubtful quality; 



