PURSLANE. 257 



covered either with mats or straw, but mats are the 

 most eligible. 



Potatoes may be raised in pots or boxes for 

 moving into the stove or any other forcing-house. 

 If in pots, those of about six inches in diameter, 

 or those called 16s., should be chosen ; in these lay 

 about two inches of earth on the bottom, on which 

 place the sets, and cover them with about the same 

 depth of soil. They are then to be removed into 

 any forcing-house, as above mentioned ; and when 

 the plants are grown to three or four inches high, 

 some additional mould to that depth must be put 

 round them. 



In boxes the only difference will be in the number 

 of sets, which should be placed about four or five 

 inches apart ; and when they are grown to the 

 proper height, let them be carefully moulded the 

 same manner as in the pots. 



45. PURSLANE. PORTULACA. 



The origin of the ancient name Portulaca has 

 exercised the ingenuity of the learned, but con- 

 cerning it no explanation has hitherto been ad- 

 duced. 



The purslane is a native of Europe, America, 

 and the East Indies. It is also said to be one of 

 the few plants found on the little island of Ascen- 

 sion. It was early introduced into France, and 

 thence into this country many years ago. 



There are two varieties cultivated ; the green or 

 garden purslane (P. oleracea), and the round-leaved 

 golden purslane (P. anacampseros). They were 



