FENNEL. 



291 



semUance to fool's-parsley, or lesser hemlock, 

 JEthusa cynapium, which is a noxious weed of a 

 poisonous nature, infesting gardens and fields. 

 If this intruder were growing among plain pars- 

 ley, an unobseryant person might confound the 

 leaves of the one with the other, although they 

 differ somewhat in shape and colour ; the leaves 

 of the poisonous plant being of rather a darker 

 green, and, if bruised, they emit an unpleasant 

 odour, very different from that of parsley. When 

 in flower they are easily distinguished, the mtliusa 

 having an involucrum of three long, nanow, 

 sharp-pointed leaflets, hanging down under every 

 partial umbel, and vulgarly termed the heard; 

 while in the garden-parsley there is usually only 

 one leaflet at the general umbel, and at the par- 

 tial umbel the involucrum consists of only a few 

 short folioles, almost as fine as hairs. 



Parsley is raised from seed, which is sown in 

 the early part of spring, most generally in single 

 drills, round the edges of any of the yegetable 

 beds. The plants appear in three or four weeks, 

 and soon the tender leaves are fit to be gathered 

 for \ise; a succession springing forth and fur- 

 nishing a supply throughout the whole of the 

 year, till the ensuing May, when the flower- 

 stalks begin to run, bloom, and bear seed in 

 July or August. 



The Hamburgh parsley is cultivated for its 

 roots. For this purpose a deep well dug soil is 

 requisite. The seed is to be sown in February, 

 March, or early in April. The plants should be 

 thinned to nine inches distance, to give room 

 for proper growth in the roots. These will be 

 fit for use in autumn, and will continue good till 

 spring. These roots are similar to, and are used 

 the same as parsnips. 



Parsley has been supposed to be an efiisctual 

 cure for the rot in sheep, provided it be given to 

 them in sufficient quantities. Attempts were 

 made some years ago to promote its extensive 

 culture in fields for this purpose, under the aus- 

 pices of the Society for the Encouragement of 

 Arts, &c. It is said that this specific was tried 

 in Hampshire with success ; and Mortimer men- 

 tions the cultivation of parsley, as a remedy 

 against this destructive disease, being practised 

 in Buckinghamshire. This herb, when used as 

 food for sheep, imparts to their flesh, it is said, a 

 very agreeable flavour. 



Hares and rabbits, we are told, will come from 

 a great distance in order to indulge their taste 

 for parsley ; and in countries where these ani- 

 mals abound, in no situation does their favourite 

 herb escape from their depredations unless se- 

 curely fenced. 



Fennel (aneihum fmniculum), is a plant of 

 very ancient use, and if not native, is at least 

 naturalized in England, where it is sometimes 

 found growing on chalky soils. It is a peren- 

 nial, rising to the height of five or six feet. The 



leaves are divided into a variety of fine long seg- 

 ments, of a bright green colour. Yellow flowers, 

 growing in umbels, appear in July and August. 

 The whole plant has a strong and disagreeable 

 odour. Its light apd delicately formed leaves 

 are occasionally used as a garnish; and, when 

 boiled, enter into the composition of certain fish- 

 sauces. 



Caraway (car urn caniij. The caraway is a 

 biennial aromatic plant, a native of England, and 

 still found growing wild occasionally in meadows 

 and pastures. This plant is cultivated for its 

 seeds chiefly, which are of a pleasing aromatic 

 flavour, and are used in confectionary and some- 

 times in medicine. In spring the under leaves 

 are occasionally used in soups; and in formei 

 times the fusiform roots were eaten as parsnips, to 

 which root Parkinson gives them the preference. 

 In Essex large quantities of the seed are annu- 

 ally raised for distillation with spirituous liquors. 

 Its culture is easy ; the seeds are sown in au- 

 tumn, they soon vegetate, and the crop is to be 

 weeded and thinned, one plant being sufficient 

 to the square foot. Next season the plants run 

 into flower and seed ; when the latter is ripe, the 

 plants are pulled up by the root, and put into a 

 dry place till the seeds are fuUy matured. 



Dill (a/iietlmm gravoolens). Dill is a hai-dy 

 biennial plant, a native of Spain, and introduced 

 into Britain in 1590. The plant grows upright, 

 and resembles fennel, only is smaller. It has a 

 slender single stem, and leaves finely divided, or 

 pinnatifid. The flowers, which form an umbel, 

 appear in June or July. The whole plant is 

 strongly aromatic. The leaves are used in certain 

 pickles, as cucumber, and to give flavour to soups 

 and sauces. It is also occasionally used in me- 

 dicine. It is easily raised from seed, wliich 

 should be sown in February', March, or April, oi 

 in autumn. 



Chervil (scandix cerefoUum). This is an 

 annual plant, indigenous to various parts of Eu- 

 rope, and sometimes observed naturalized in 

 English gardens. It rises to nearly two feet in 

 height ; the leaves are of a very delicate texture, 

 three times divided ; and the flowers, which are 

 of a whitish colour, appear in June. The ten- 

 der leaves are used in soups and salads, and those 

 of a curled variety, common in France, in gar- 

 nishing. It is easily raised from seed, the sow- 

 ing of which may be commenced in February, 

 and continued every month for a succession of 

 young plants. 



Sea Holly (eryngimn maritinmm). This is 

 a plant which grows wild in Britain, belonging 

 to a family of singular plants, somewhat like 

 thistles in general aspect. They are usually ot 

 a bluish hue, prickly, and with large involucres, 

 and dry horny leaves. Linnajus says that the 

 tops of sea holly ai'e eaten like asparagus in Swe- 

 den. The roots of this plant have been celebrated 



