414 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



STRAWBERRY-BLITE. 



BLITUM. 



xVTRlPLICE^E. MONANDRIA DIGYXIA. 



Blitum is derived From the Greek, and signifies,^ only to be thrown 

 away : it is also called Strawberry Spinach, and Berry-bearing Orach. 

 French, blete ; arroche. 



THE name of these plants may not appear very inviting ; 

 but it is to be understood with some limitations : they bear 

 fruit resembling the Strawberry in appearance ; and all the 

 name is intended to imply is, that the fruit is unfit to eat. 

 Having thus explained matters, I will proceed to intro- 

 duce the plants themselves, which, perhaps, may make a 

 more favourable impression than if more expectation had 

 been excited. 



There are three or four species of the Strawberry-blite, 

 all annuals, and easily raised from seed. They may be 

 sown in March or April, three or four seeds in a pot of 

 eight or nine inches diameter, of the Swedish kind ; but 

 only one, of the others. In five or six weeks the plants will 

 come up, and in July will begin to show their berries. 

 They should always be kept moderately moist, and must 

 stand in the open air. As the flower-stems advance in 

 height, they will require sticks to support them, or the 

 weight of the berries will bear them down. 



The Blitum Capitatum, or Berry-headed Strawberry- 

 blite, bears the largest berries. 



