56 



CASSELL'S POPULAH GARDENING. 



the more common use of the leaves of this plant for 

 sauce, &o., the young shoots, -when blanched, -which 

 is effected by covering the stools over before growth 

 commences, are also used for salads, as the flavour 

 is somewhat strong and highly piquant; however, 

 such an addition must be made with care. For- 

 merly a variety of Fennels existed, but the cultivation 

 of it has not of late years been so great as of yore, 

 and therefore only one common form seems to have 

 been retained by seedsmen, &c. 



Horse-radish {Cochlearia Armoracia). French, 

 Cranson ; German, Merretlig ; Italian, Samolaccio. — 

 This is a perennial plant found wild, commonly, in 

 England, and mostly in low-lying marsh-lands, which 

 ■ is a fact not always taken into accoimt m connection 

 with its artificial culture. Probably few plants re- 

 ceived into the limits of the vegetable garden are 

 allowed to possess their own space of ground, and to 

 subsist regardless of cultuie and form, in an equal 

 degree. Yet it is in very general demand. Market 

 gardeners, or growers for market, produce very fine 

 sticks. To secure such it is desirable to trench a 

 piece of ground two feet deep, placing a nice layer of 

 manure at the bottom. Subsequently, or during the 

 month of February or March, procure cuttings for 

 planting. Take up old plants, out away the main 

 shoots, and divide the lower parts of the sticks which 

 remain into lengths of about two and a half inches, 

 carefully removing all minor roots. Now procure a 

 long dibble, and dibble holes into the bed down to 

 the layer of manure. Drop one piece, or cutting, 

 into each hole. They should be twelve inches apart. 

 When the pieces are placed in the holes, fill the 

 spaces above theni with finely-sifted cinder - ashes, 

 or sand. The only subsequent attention the young 

 crop will require is to keep the surface free from 

 weeds. It is important to be more particular than is 

 customary in digging up a crop, so grown, for use. 

 To simply insert the spade from, above downwards 

 is to cut the produce in two, and to waste about half 

 of each stick. A slight trench should first be made 

 along one end of the bed, in such a manner that each 

 stick when taken up can be exhumed from its very 

 base. To lessen labour, a row or two may be taken 

 up at the approach of winter and laid in store con- 

 venientl}' for use. 



Hyssop {Syssopus officinalis). French, Hysope; 

 German, Jsop ; Italian, • Jysop. — This is a dwarf 

 evergreen shrub, a native of Southern Europe, which 

 receives recognition in all moderate-sized herbaries. 

 The plant produces blue flowers about midsummer, 

 and is powerfully aromatic. Sow seeds during the 

 month of April, and transplant the young seedling 

 plants into rows or beds eight inches apart, during 



showery weather in the month of June. Small strong 

 side-shoots also root, inserted firmly, and it is pro- 

 pagated by division of the old plants. 



lee Plant {Mesemhryamthemwm erystaUinwm). — 

 Few kitchen gardens are complete without a few of 

 these very desirable plants for garnishing purposes. 

 Seeds are sown in a smaE pot and sandy soil, during 

 the early part of April. When placed in moderate 

 warmth the young plants soon form. When large 

 enough to handle, pot each one singly into a very 

 small pot. About June 1, transplant out of doors- 

 into rich soil. 



Lavender (Lavandula Spica, syn. X. vera). French 

 Lavende ; German, Spilclavendel ; Italian, Zavendula. 

 — The Lavender, a dwarf hardy shrub introduced 

 during the sixteenth century from the south of 

 Europe, is popular among all classes. Its culture 

 is extremely simple. It is propagated by means of 

 side-shoots, or rather side-slips, being such as are 

 drawn off from the sides of the main stems, having 



a heel, or portion of the main stem, attached to then- 

 base. These have all ragged edges around such 

 wounds; these are cut away with a, sharp-edged 

 knife, when the cuttings are dibbled out thickly into 

 nursery beds in a shady cool position. The month 

 of February is suitable for this purpose. When the 

 young shoots are rooted, which will be seen by the 

 plants commencing to grow somewhat, they require 

 planting out into beds at eighteen inches asunder, 

 or in rows. The most suitable soil is a poor stony 

 or sandy one, moderately enriched. So planted the 

 fiowers produced possess more powerful perfume. 

 Besides, the plants withstand severe winters better 

 upon such soil, than when grown on such as is 

 rich. After the flower-spikes are cut, which must be 

 done when most of the flowers are expanded, cut the 

 plants well back, by which means a more bushy and 

 better form will be maintained. There are both 

 broad and narrow-leaved varieties. 



