RAMPION. 263 



name rampion is considered a corruption of the 

 latter. 



Rampion is a native of this country, and of se- 

 veral other parts of Europe. It has a long spin- 

 dle-shaped root of a whitish cast : the leaves grow 

 close to the ground, till the stem shoots up into 

 blossom about two feet high, in which state its 

 bunches of blue flowers render it a very ornamental 

 plant. 



The root is the part which is used : it is eaten 

 raw, like a radish, and has a pleasant nutty flavour ; 

 it is also sometimes cut into winter salads, and then 

 the leaves as well as the roots are used ; but of late 

 years the use of this vegetable has been on the de- 

 cline. 



Rampion is a biennial plant, and requires a light 

 rich soil. The seed should be sown as soon as it is 

 gathered, when ripe, about the end of July or the 

 beginning of August ; for if kept out of the ground 

 till the spring, it often lays a year in the ground 

 before vegetating. It does not bear transplanting 

 well, otherwise plenty of plants might be procured 

 from the self-sown ones. 



After sowing the seed, it must be lightly raked 

 in, and when the plants are sufficiently up they will 

 require to be thinned out to three or four inches 

 apart, and, from their nature, to be kept in a toler- 

 ably moist state throughout the season. In No- 

 vember the plants will be fit for use, and will con- 

 tinue good till April ; if wanted in frosty weather, 

 they should be covered with some dry litter, as they 

 are best if taken up when required for use. 



s 4 



