122 VEGECULTURE 



after utility considerations. And the floral and decorative side 

 of Herbs will be readily seen. The plants, then, should be 

 cultivated with a five- fold object in view, which fact surely 

 indicates extraordinary usefulness ! 



PART I. SALADS AND SALAD HERBS 



BURNET (Poterium sanguisorba) . The peculiar flavour of 

 the leaves of this plant, resembling that of the Cucumber, gives 

 it a value as a substitute for the latter where its flavour is 

 required and the real article unobtainable. The culture is 

 simple : Seeds are sown in spring or autumn in drills, either 

 in beds or as an edging. No attention is necessary, except to 

 prevent the plants producing flowers, this enabling the supply 

 of green leaves to increase and last longer. The latter are cut 

 with a knife as required. A hardy, almost wild plant, reaching 

 a height of from one to two feet. 



CORN-SALAD (LAMB'S LETTUCE) (Valerianella olitoria). 

 This European salad plant is a widely-distributed wildling, 

 enlisted into the service of the garden and salad-bowl. It forms 

 rosettes of Lettuce-like leaves, somewhat insipid in taste, useful 

 to mix with other leaves in salads. There are several varieties, 

 the Italian and Common being the best known. The seeds are 

 sown for successional crops from August to October, resulting 

 in a supply of plants until the following spring. They may be 

 sown on any soil and wherever a small space may become 

 vacant, but give better results in a rich medium. Little or no 

 attention is required, which is one of the chief attractions of the 

 Corn-Salad. 



CRESS (Lepidium sativnw). The common, well-known 

 Garden Cress was originally a native of Persia. It is an annual 

 plant of very rapid and prolific growth, usually and familiarly 

 associated with Mustard, or Rape, for summer salads, the seeds 

 of the latter two being sown a day or two later, when intended 

 to accompany the Cress to the table, as they germinate much 

 quicker. Cress and Mustard seeds germinate anywhere, in 

 fact, and under all sorts of circumstances. They are usually 

 sown very thickly in shallow boxes, in fine soil kept very moist, 

 and the leaves are cut when quite young and tender ; otherwise 



