164 Notes and Gleanings. 



simple), the cultivator may fairly calculate on eighteen hundred bushels to the 

 acre, and probably on considerably more. When we consider the great excel- 

 lence and highly nutritious character of this greatest of all esculents, its hardiness, 

 its easy culture, its freedom from all rot, its combination of nitrogen, the same 

 nourishment as in meat, its immense productiveness, by which alone more than 

 three hundred millions of people in the most densely-populated empire in the 

 world have been sustained free from all famine through all the past ages of 

 the world, can we refrain from rendering homage to the beneficent Father of the 

 universe for the greatest alimentary boon that he has ever tendered to man ? " 



Fifteen years ago, we imported a few of the tubers, or bulbs, for trial. On 

 opening the package, we were disappointed in the quantity and in the character 

 of what had been sent us. The entire contents would not have filled a common 

 wine-glass. In view of a product of twelve or fifteen hundred bushels to the 

 acre, could it be that responsible seed-merchants were sending their patrons 

 such samples for propagation ? Distributed thus, the yield of a few acres would 

 have supplied the world. But we trenched, planted, cultivated to the letter, as 

 directed, and succeeded in raising a few of what, at the time, were pronounced 

 fine specimens. For several years, the cultivation was continued ; perhaps we 

 should say, from motives of curiosity, as the yield was small, and the roots were 

 so very easily broken, that scarcely one in ten was taken from the ground in a 

 perfect condition. When cooked, the flesh had the rice-like taste and consis- 

 tency it was said to possess ; but in our judgment it was inferior to that of the 

 common potato, and, we think, would generally be so considered. 



Up to the present time, its cultivation cannot be considered a success ; and 

 we see little encouragement for the future, except in the introduction of new 

 varieties, or the discovery of some better method of raising and harvesting. 



F. B. 



New Vegetable. — The. Phytolacca decandra, menixontd in the February 

 number of the Journal, is the common native pigeon-berry. It is an herbaceous 

 perennial, and, in some localities, is found growing in great abundance. Though 

 the young shoots, early in the season, are said to form an acceptable substitute 

 for spinach or asparagus, we are not aware that the plant has ever been consid- 

 ered of much value as an esculent, and probably is nowhere in general use. The 

 root, which attains a large size, possesses important medicinal properties. 



The " new vegetable " to which the note calls attention is evidently the 

 P. esculenta, or edible Phytolacca. Ten years ago, through the kindness of the 

 late M. Vilmorin of Paris, we received a sample of the seeds for trial. The 

 plant is a hardy annual. The seeds were sown early in May, in rows two feet 

 apart, and thinned to twelve or fifteen inches in the row\ The foliage is similar 

 to that of the species first mentioned ; but the plant is more slender, and, in its 

 general character, shows little of the stocky, robust manner of growth seen nn 

 the common pigeon-berry. The yield is small, its cultivation is more difficult 

 than that of asparagus or spinach, and it is inferior to these vegetables as a 

 table-esculent. 



Descriptions of both species, with directions for culture and use, will be found 

 in " The Field and Garden Vegetables of America." F. B. 



