FOODS, FOOD-STUFFS, AND FOOD-ADJUNCTS. 43 



a Liliaceous plant native to the Levant, is not more 

 nutritious than the turnip. Its cultivation is very 

 ancient. 



The PARSNIP-CHERVIL (Cheer ophy Hum bulbosum^L,.), 

 a native of France, with a small root, and the SKIRRET 

 (Slum Sisarum, L.), a native of China and Japan, 

 formerly much cultivated, are both umbelliferous. 

 They are eaten boiled, as also is the root of the 

 RAMPION (Campanula Rapunculus, L.), which is con- 

 siderably used in France. 



SALSAFY (Tragopogon porrifolius, L.) and SCOR- 

 ZONERA (Scorzonera hispanica, L.) are Compositae 

 with edible roots. 



The RADISH (Raphanus sativus, L.), a native of 

 China, is a Crucifer that has been in cultivation for 

 upwards of three centuries. There are, accordingly, 

 several varieties, red and white, spindle-shaped and 

 turnip-shaped. Though sometimes cooked, they are 

 commonly eaten raw as salad. 



Potatoes have become such a necessary of life in 

 the British Isles, that ever since the ravages of the 

 fungus Phytophthora efforts have been made to find a 

 satisfactory substitute. During the last few years 

 Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., of Kew, and Messrs. Sutton, 

 of Reading, have introduced to notice two new species 

 of tuber-bearing Solanums and some hybrid forms. 

 Whilst Solatium tuberosum, L., is a native of the 

 interior of Chili, growing at a considerable altitude, 

 in very dry soil, 5. Maglia, Schlect., grows by the 

 shore in a much moister climate, as noticed by 

 Darwin in the voyage of the Beagle. Originally 

 introduced in 1822, it was overlooked as identical 



