298 THF VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



If green sorrel should be required all the winter, 

 a patch of the French sort must be protected early 

 by a proper covering, to keep off the severity of the 

 frost. 



60. SPINACH. SPINACIA. 



The botanic name of this plant is most probably 

 derived from spina, a thorn, on account of the 

 prickly or spinous nature of its seed. 



Spinach is a hardy annual, and was first culti- 

 vated in the English garden about the year 1568. 

 Its native place of growth is uncertain, but is sup- 

 posed to be Spain* 



Spinach, eaten freely, is laxative and cooling ; it 

 has no hurtful quality ; but does not afford much 

 nutriment. It is, however, a useful and grateful 

 vegetable, and very wholesome ; and may be eaten 

 in almost all kinds of diseases when no other vege- 

 table would be allowed. 



The young leaves of spinach were used in salad- 

 ing, not only in the time of Queen Elizabeth, but 

 as late as the days of Charles I. 



The leaves of these plants being of a very suc- 

 culent or moist nature, must be boiled (as observed 

 for sorrel) without water, except what adheres to 

 them in the rinsing, after having been washed. 



There are three varieties of the S. oleracea, or 

 garden spinach, in cultivation, which differ in the 

 size and shape of the leaves, and the greater or less 

 prickliness of the seeds. 



1. Prickly-seeded, or Winter Spinach: the best 

 for winter crops. 



