124* THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



it was brought by the Spaniards in the year 

 1580 ; and it afterwards appears to have been 

 sown and cultivated by Gerard, the celebrated 

 herbalist, whose garden, at Ely Place, Holborn, 

 has now vanished, and it may be said, has " left not 

 a wreck behind." 



Not only does this brilliant flower enliven the 

 gardens both of the rich and poor, but it also adds 

 to the health of the body. The flowers and 

 young leaves have a warm taste, like the garden 

 cress, and are sometimes used in like manner in 

 salads. The seeds or berries, when gathered 

 young, on a dry day, and pickled in the best vine- 

 gar, form an excellent substitute for capers, which 

 they much resemble; and, indeed, many persons 

 prefer them to capers. 



This herb is also esteemed a good antiscorbutic ; 

 the flowers and young leaves, as before stated, being 

 of a warm, spicy, agreeable taste, are serviceable in 

 weakness or pain in the stomach, proceeding from 

 cold, and flatulencies. To sum up the whole, they 

 will be found a most brilliant garnish to dishes by 

 candle light. The two principal varieties for cu- 

 linary use are the following : 



1. Nasturtium major, well known as an old in- 

 habitant of the English garden, producing its seed 

 in knots of three joined together. 



2. Nasturtium minor, is of much later intro- 

 duction. It grows very dwarf and bushy, and pro- 

 duces larger seeds than the major, which are 

 preferred for pickling; but from its scanty pro- 

 duction, there requires to be a larger quantity of 

 plants grown for that purpose. 



