658 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



instance, it is desired to form edgings of male-flowered plants alone, 

 as these are not liable to be exhausted by bearing seed. The more 

 usual way is to raise the plants from seed sown in spring, in drills, 



and, if possible, in good, 

 deep, moist soil The seed- 

 lings, when strong enough,, 

 are thinned out to the, 

 distance of 6 to 8 in. from 

 one another in the drills. 

 In about two months after 

 sowing, some leaves will 

 be fit to gather. Some 

 persons, when gathering, 

 cut off the whole plant 

 with a knife, but the 

 Parisian market-gardeners, 

 who are well skilled in 

 the cultivation of this plant, always gather the leaves one by 

 one, selecting only those which are fully grown : a more abundant 

 and continuous supply is obtained in this way than by cutting 

 off all the leaves, large and small, at the same time. A plantation 

 of Common Sorrel will last for three or four years ; when its 

 productiveness begins to decline, new plants, raised either from 

 seed or divisions of the tufts, should be substituted. The leaves 

 are very extensively used, and are sent to table boiled. 



Broad-leaved French Sorrel (Oseille de Belleville}. This is 

 the most extensively grown 



Broad-leaved French Sorrel. 



the 



Common 



variety of 



Sorrel, and is almost the 

 only kind cultivated in the 

 vicinity of Paris. It differs 

 from the type in the greater 

 size and paler colour of 

 its leaves, and comes very 

 true from seed. The 

 market - gardeners around 

 Paris often have whole 

 fields under this plant, and, 

 by growing it under frames, 

 keep up a constant supply 

 of fresh leaves nearly all 

 the year through. 



White Large-leaved White Large-leaved Sorrel. 



Sorrel. Remarkable for the breadth and size of its 

 which surpass those of the Belleville Sorrel. The old 

 Sorrel, though an excellent, white, very early variety, 



leaves,. 

 Virieit 

 is far 



