CORN SALADo 191 



This, like many other garden herbs we have noticed, may be com- 

 mended by saying, with Pliny, that a good house-wife may go into her 

 herb-garden, instead of a spice shop for her seasoning, and thus save 

 the health of her family by saving the contents of her purse. Fennel 

 requires little culture ; for where a plant is once established, it will con- 

 tinue to grow for many years. The seeds are sown early in spring, 

 broadcast or in shallow drills, 6 or 8 inches apart, and when a few inches 

 huh the plants are thinned out or transplanted. When wanted early 

 the roots may be slipped off and planted a foot apart, when they will 

 soon produce a supply of leaves. They may be cut down in summer 

 to produce young leaves below and to keep the plant from spreading 

 if desired. 



Tke sweet fennel (dulce} or Finochi.no. The sweetness of this vari- 

 ety lies chiefly in the seed which is used medicinally. The stalks are 

 the edible part. In cooking it should be half an hour in water, thea 

 parboiled and drained and then cooked -in a stew pan in rich gravy till 

 tender. The stalk is earthed up to blanch the leaves, which is done 

 in 10 or 12 days. By successive sowings and cutting down, a supply 

 is had from June to Dec. 



The properties of the sc.ed of the sweet fennel depend on aromatic 

 oil. De Candolle regards the sweet fennel as a distinct species, and 

 others as a variety. It differs from F. vulgare, before described, in, 

 many particulars, and affords the sweet fennel seeds used in medicine. 

 The 2 kinds known in trade, are the short and long. The latter being 

 most esteemed. The plant is an aromatic stimulant, like dill and anise. 

 It is given in the flatulent cholic of children and as a carminative 

 with griping medicines. The oil is obtained by bruising seed and 

 distilling it with water. 19 cwt. of seed produce 78 IDS. of oil. Dose 

 from 2 to 20 drops. This is more agreeable in odor and taste than 

 that of the wild fennel. Fennel water by decoction is commonly 

 used as a carminative to relieve the flatulent cholic of infants and 

 otherwise as above. 



CORN SALAD, Fetticus, or lamb's lettuce. C. 3. 0. 1. sp. 15. A. 

 veleriana olitoria. This is a species of valerian from powerful, a na- 

 tive of this country and Europe, and a plant of mild agreeable taste 

 and flavor and found wild in corn-fields; hence its name. It is culti- 

 vated as a winter and spring salad and called lamb's lettuce orfetticus. 

 It is dressed like spinach. A recent and improved variety has lately 

 been introduced. The seed is sown as soon as ripe in Aug., otherwise 

 it remains a long time in the earth. A warm spot is selected and the 

 seed is sown broad-cast in a bed or in drills 6 inches apart. When 

 well up the plants are thinned to 3 or 4 inches and the leaves are 



picked when wanted Flowers triandrous, blueish white; leaves lin- 



near, obtuse; stem 2-forked. V, dentata is the tooth-seeded com 

 salad. 



