376 GARDENING FOK THE SOUTH. 



as is common in the South for early greens, the soil should 

 be rather dry. White mustard may be sown any time of 

 the year for a salad, in the same manner as cress, which 

 see. It must be used when the seed-leaf is just expanded, 

 for if it gets into the rough leaf it is fit for nothing but 

 greens. For use, cut them off with a sharp knife. They 

 should be used soon after gathering. Mustard for greens 

 or for seed should be sown broadcast or in drills eighteen 

 inches apart, to be finally thinned to about a foot in the 

 drill. The leaves at the South are gathered the latter part 

 of winter or in early spring. Keep the ground free from 

 weeds. When grown for seed, gather when the pods 

 change color, and thresh when dry. 



Besides the White and Black species there are several 

 varieties which are used in many portions of the South. 

 The Southern giant curled is most popular. 



/ sr. — The tender leaves of both species are used for 

 salads, and should be more cultivated for this purpose. 

 They are also much cultivated for greens. The seeds 

 of the white variety, ground, form the Durham or London 

 table mustard, but the flower of the black sort is that from 

 which our American table mustard is, or ought to be, 

 made. The seeds may be ground in a common spice mill 

 or crushed by a roller on a table. In this country the flour 

 is usually sifted after grinding, but the French do not 

 separate the husk, and thus make a brownish flour, more 

 powerful and palatable than the other. Mustard is a very 

 agreeable condiment, assisting digestion and promoting 

 appetite. The seed used whole is an excellent seasoning 

 to various kinds of pickles. It is also much used in medi- 

 cine, both by the faculty and in domestic practice. It is 

 an acrid stimulant, and in large quantities acts as an 

 emetic. The proper dose for the latter is from a teaspoon- 

 ful to a tablespoonful in a glass of water. Mustard is a 

 local excitant applied to the skin in a cataplasm, made of 



