Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 437 



proper sap, are, as it were, ever on the alert to take advan- 

 tage of any circumstances favourable to vegetation. 



German Rampion, our Tree Primrose, CEnothera (Oinos, 

 wine, and thera, a wild beast, a huntsman ; the ancients said 

 the roots had the smell of wine, and, given in drink, would 

 calm the most ferocious animal, or allay intoxication ; but it is 

 very doubtful if our CEnothera is the plant to which Theo- 

 phrastus applied the name;) biennis, Biennial CEnothera. — The 

 roots have a nutty flavour, but inferior to those of the rampion ; 

 they are used in Germany, and some parts of France, stewed, 

 and raw in salads, with mustard, oil, salt, and pepper, like 

 common celery. According to Lippold, in the Verstdndigen 

 Gartners (p. 282.), it has not been long in use as a culinary 

 vegetable, but deserves to be better known. Seed-shops. 

 May. Sandy soil, and shady situation. 



Small Salad Lettuces. — The French, who pay exemplary 

 attention to the composition of salads, cultivate the following 

 sorts in drills, and cut them over for use when in the third 

 or fourth leaf, as we do cresses and mustard. Spanish let- 

 tuce, endive-leaved lettuce, salad cabbage lettuce ; or, in the 

 French seed-shops, laitue epinarde, laitue chicoree, and laitue 

 a couper. 



Golden Cress. — Slower in growth, and of a yellower green 

 than the common cress. 



Garden Picridium, Picridium vulgare ; Cichoraceae. — A 

 little low thistle or dandelion looking plant, cultivated in the 

 Italian gardens for the same purpose as the salad lettuces. 



Italian Corn Salad, Valerianella eriocarpa. — Milder in 

 flavour, and coming earlier into use than the common corn 

 salad ; also, good, dressed in early spring as a spinach. 



Blistered-leaved Sorrel, i?umex Acetosa, var. — Less acid 

 than the common sorrel, and more slow in running to flower. 



Mountain Sorrel, Rumex. Acetosa, var. — More acid than 

 the common sorrel, and rather later in running to flower. 



Green Mountain Sorrel, Rumex Acetosa, var. — " Prefer- 

 able to any of the other sorrels, from the greater size and 

 abundance of its leaves, which possess much acidity." 



Small Nasturtium. — " For the sake of the seed pods to 

 pickle, this kind is preferable." 



From the foregoing list, our readers will find a few things 

 worth ordering from their seedsman ; not perhaps altogether 

 on account of their absolute value, but because in every ex- 

 tensive garden it is worth while trying every variety of the 

 most useful sorts of vegetables and fruits, on the principle that 

 some may be hit upon, peculiarly and eminently suited to the 



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