4-2 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



market-gardeners round London, which is to raise 

 the plants with a fork, and lay them slopingly, with 

 their heads towards the north, and only a few 

 inches from the ground. By this means the plants 

 are soon covered and protected by the snow, which 

 generally falls previous to long and severe frosts. 

 It also renders the plants hardier, by the check re- 

 ceived in their partial removal. 



9. BURNET POTERIUM. 



Burnet is a hardy, indigenous, perennial, plant ; 

 and is found growing wild on the chalky lands and 

 and heathy commons of England. Its Latin name, 

 Poterium, signifies a cup. 



The parts made use of in culinary purposes are 

 the young leaves, which are put into salads, and 

 occasionally into soups, to which it gives a pleasant 

 and somewhat warm taste. When slightly bruised, 

 the leaves smell not unlike cucumber. It was for- 

 merly in much greater repute than at present, and 

 was a favourite herb for cool tankards, a name 

 which is now almost obliterated from our memory. 

 The French are very partial to this herb, arid con- 

 sume great quantities of it in their soups. The 

 plants continue green through the winter, when 

 many other salad plants are cut off, or in a state 

 unfit for use. 



Culture. As the young leaves of the herb are 

 always most preferable, a small quantity of seed 

 should be sown annually, in the spring or early in 

 the autumn, in shallow drills, in a shady situation, 

 and may afterwards be transplanted into rows, or a 



