212 GARDENING. 



THE SKIRRET (Sium Sisarum of Tournefort). This 

 is called by Millar the Water Parsnip, and is found 

 growing spontaneously in many parts of England, 

 in moist or wet grounds. There are six species, 

 but one of which is cultivated in the garden. The 

 root, which is the only edible part of the plant, is 

 long and fibrous, wholesome and nutritious ; but to 

 some palates it is disagreeably sweet. It is propa- 

 gated indifferently from seeds or from cuttings, 

 though Millar prefers the latter, as furnishing roots 

 of greater size and better quality. April is the 

 month most proper for either operation, sowing or 

 planting. In both modes the culture is in drills, 

 taking care that the plants be not nearer than four 

 or five inches to each other. The soil in which it 

 succeeds best is a loose, moist loam ; and the cul- 

 ture and subsequent management do not differ from 

 those already described for parsnips. 



SORREL (Rumex Acetosa of Linnceus). Of this 

 plant there are four species, distinguished by the 

 shape and size of their leaves, as the pointed, the 

 obtuse, the round, the large, the small, &c. All 

 soils not positively dry or wet are adapted to this 

 vegetable ; nor do they require more than a light 

 dressing. It is propagated as well by cuttings as 

 by seeds. In the former case the slips are put 

 down in the fall, and in the latter the seeds are 

 sown in the spring. In gathering it, many garden- 

 ets cut off an entire tuft close to the ground ; but a 

 better method, because more favourable to repro- 

 duction, is to crop the outer leaves first, always 

 leaving the central ones to be last taken.* We need 

 scarcely mention that, besides culinary uses, sorrel 

 furnishes an acid salt, much employed in taking out 

 stains from linen, and that the roots yield a beauti- 

 ful red water, known in medicine as a sudorific. f 



* This is the practice of the gardeners of Paris. 

 I Bosc. 



