138 J^otices of new Culinary Vegetables. 



sively in England, and of which immense quantities are raised 

 to supply the market, is yet only grown to a very limited 

 extent by our cultivators and market gardeners: it is, how- 

 ever, gradually coming more into use, and, within a year or 

 two, the demand for it has considerably increased. In an 

 article grown so largely as the spinach, it would have been 

 supposed, that if the varieties could have been improved to 

 any degree, the attempt would have been made by the more 

 skilful English gardeners, who are ever making exertions to 

 originate new and superior things. But, for a great length of 

 time, with a single exception, the only kinds cultivated have 

 been the common Round or Summer spinach, and the Prick- 

 ly or Winter spinach. 



A few years since, a newly introduced species, called the 

 New Zealand spinach, attracted considerable attention, was 

 noticed in the agricultural papers, and was grown to some 

 extent for a year or two, but as soon as it lost its novelty, its 

 cultivation was nearly abandoned, and the old standard kinds 

 which were set aside, were again reinstated. 



It has consequently been left to some of our own practical 

 gardeners to enhance the value of this vegetable, by origi- 

 nating a new and superior variety: and though it may not 

 seem to many, so important an occurrence to raise a new 

 vegetable, as to raise a new fruit or flower, yet we believe 

 that he who produces a superior new vegetable, confers a 

 greater favor upon the public than the individual who pro- 

 duces a new fruit or flower. Vegetables are necessaries 

 which administer to the comfort of all, while fruits may be 

 viewed, if not wholly, yet in a degree, as luxuries, which can 

 be dispensed with. 



Iiiley\^ neio Burdock spinach. — This is said to be a very 

 superior sort. It originated with, and has been grown only 

 by, Mr. Riley, gardener to Pierce Butler, Esq., near Phila- 

 delphia: when properly cultivated, it resembles, in appear- 

 ance, the Savoy, with the exception of the size, which is 

 several times larger, and the quality far superior. The leaf 

 is perfectly smooth, and the whole plant is quite hardy, stand- 

 ing out the severest winters without injury. It is a highly 

 desirable sort. The seed should be sown in drills, on rich, 

 well manured ground, and the plants thinned out to one foot 

 apart: each plant is full the size of half a bushel, if properly 

 cultivated. This variety has taken the prize every time it 

 has been shown at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 



