SKIRRET. SORREL. 579 



" The forms of the bulbs, however, remained perma- 

 nently different from all I had ever seen of the same 

 species, being much more broad, and less long ; and the 

 crop was so much better in quality, as well as much 

 more abundant, that I can confidently recommend the 

 mode of culture adopted to every gardener." Hort. 

 Trans. Vol. ii. p. 98. 



67. SKIRRET. 



Slum Sisarum> or Garden Skirret, is a perennial 

 plant, a native of China, cultivated here in 1548. Its 

 roots or tubers, when boiled and eaten with butter, are 

 sweet and agreeable. A crop may be raised either from 

 seeds or offsets ; but the latter method is seldom prac- 

 tised. It is usually raised by sowing the seed in March 

 or April, on a bed of rich light earth ; when the plants 

 are two or three inches high, they must be thinned 

 out, in the manner directed for Salsafy and Scorzonera, 

 along with which it is generally cultivated as an esculent 

 root. With the usual summer culture, the roots will 

 have attained their full size in October, when they may 

 be taken up, and laid in sand till they are wanted for 

 use. 



68. SORREL. 



Formerly there was only one species of Sorrel culti- 

 vated in our gardens, Rumex Acetosa, a perennial plant, 

 a native of Britain. In 1596, another species, the 

 French Sorrel, succeeded, and was considered as a valuable 

 addition to our stock. Lately, three other sorts have 

 been obtained from France, and they merit the gardener's 

 attention. These may be arranged as below : 



1. Common Sorrel. Rumex Acetosa. 



2. Blistered-leaved. j3 bullatus. 



3. French Sorrel. scutatus. 



4. Mountain Sorrel. montanus. 



5. Green Mountain Sorrel. . /3 lucidus. 



P P 2 



