SKIRRET 657 



spring. When the seedlings have made four or five leaves, they 

 are planted out permanently, in good, moist, rich, well-manured 

 soil, and will commence to yield abundantly in the ensuing 

 autumn. As the plants delight in abundance of moisture, they 

 should be plentifully watered all through the summer. Divisions 

 of the roots or offsets of old plants are planted in March or April, 

 and the plants raised in this way are treated exactly like those 

 raised from seed. It has been asserted that the roots of plants 

 which have been raised from divisions or root-cuttings have the 

 core less woody than those of plants raised from seed. This, 

 however, is only true when a careful selection has been made of 

 the roots used for propagating. Plants raised in the same seed-bed 

 differ very much from one another in the size of the woody core, 

 and it is evident that, by means of a judicious selection, the best 

 may be propagated to the exclusion of all the others. As the 

 Skirret is a very hardy plant, the roots may be left in the ground 

 all the winter, and only taken up as they are wanted for use. 



USES. The roots, which are tender, sweet, and slightly floury, 

 are used in the same manner as Salsafy or Scorzonera roots. 



SORREL 



Rumex, L. Polygonacea. 



French^ Oseille. German, Sauerampfer. Flemish and Dutch, Zuring. Italian, Acetosa. 

 Spanish, Acedera. Portuguese, Azedas. 



Many species of Rumex are cultivated in gardens, all of which 

 are perennial plants, and characterised by the acidity of their 

 leaves. Of these, the principal varieties which are grown have 

 sprung from Rumex Acetosa, R. montanus, R. scutatus, and R. 

 Patientia, all of which grow wild in France. The garden Sorrels 

 may be ranked among the plants which have been least modified 

 by cultivation, as most of them are little, if anything, better than 

 wild plants of the same species growing under favourable conditions. 



COMMON SORREL 



Rumex Acetosa, L. 



Oseille commune. 



Native of Europe. Perennial. Leaves oblong, hastate at the 

 base, with long-pointed auricles directed downwards almost parallel 

 with the leaf-stalk, which is long and channelled ; stem hollow, 

 striated, and often red ; flowers dioecious, in terminal and lateral 

 clusters ; seeds small, triangular, brown, and shining. Their 

 germinating power lasts for four years. 



CULTURE. The plant may be propagated by division of the 

 tufts in March or April. This method is employed when, for 



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