142 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



Rumex montanus. 



FRENCH SORREL. 



This plant has large succulent leaves of the size of those of 

 a Cos-lettuce, and less acid than those of the common Sorrel, 

 which in appearance it in nowise resembles. It is an excellent 

 ingredient to use abundantly in soups, and serves to impart a 

 peculiarly fine flavour to omelettes. 



Dr. Fabre Tonnerre told me he had it in his garden at Calcutta 

 thriving well, and available for use all the year through. Even 

 in Europe it requires a shady situation, more especially therefore 

 will it do so in this country. It requires, no doubt, a rich soil 

 and abundant watering, as the quicker and more luxuriant its 

 growth the milder and more agreeable its flavour. It is easily 

 raised from seed ; but the more ordinary mode of propagation 

 is by division of the roots. 



AMARANTACE^E. 

 Amaranthus oleraceus. 

 Sag. 



This and its varieties are extensively cultivated by the 

 natives all over India : the plants are fit for use during the 

 Kains : the part eaten is the soft succulent stem, which is sliced 

 into small pieces, and dressed in the manner of French Beans. 

 To my taste a most insipid vegetable, hardly acceptable even 

 when nothing else in the way of green vegetable is to be had. 



Dr. Eoxburgh says there are 



" Several varieties cultivated as pot-herbs, of which the following 

 are remarkable : 



" a. viridis. The common green sort. Most cultivated. 



" ft. ruher. A beautiful variety, with a clear bright-red stem, 

 branches, petioles, nerves, and veins, and the leaves themselves 

 rather rust-coloured. 



" y. albus. All the parts that are red in /? are here of a clear, 

 shining, white colour. Much cultivated in Bengal. 



" 8. giganteus. Five to eight feet high, with a stem as thick as 

 a man's wrist. The tender succulent tops of the stems and branches 

 are sometimes served up on our tables as a substitute for Aspa- 

 ragus." 



