94 



MV GARDEN. 



warm condiment and a useful salading. For market purposes germi- 

 nating Rape-seed {Brassica Napus, van oleifera, fig. 126) is used in the 

 same way, but it is so inferior to mustard that in private gardens it 

 should never be employed. Rape-seed is, however, cheaper than 

 mustard-seed, and hence it is employed- for the market. 



The Australian cress is a fine salad. It is used when the plant 

 has five or six perfect leaves (fig. 127). It is particularly fine in early 

 spring, when grown in an orchard-house. It is strongly to be com- 

 mended, and it is not nearly so frequently grown as it ought to be. 



Fig. 127. — Australian Cress. 



Fig. 128.— Curled Cress. 



The Curled Cress {Lepidium sativum, fig. 128) is also used for salad, 

 and is likewise good in early spring, especially when grown in the 

 orchard-house. We always grow a reasonable proportion. Where 

 water-cresses cannot be obtained, the American Cress {Barbarea prcecox) 

 may be grown ; otherwise it may be dispensed with altogether, as an- 

 inferior salad plant. 



The Lettuce {Lactuca sativd) is a highly important salad plant. 

 There are two general forms, the Cos and the Cabbage, with numerous 

 varieties, one merging into the other. For the early crop in spring 

 the Hammersmith Cabbage and Bath Cos are to be preferred. They 

 are sown from the middle to the end of August, and the young plants 

 are subsequently transplanted to a protected place, where they can 

 get all the light of the winter's sun, and they are fit to cut in April 

 and beginning of May. These, however, are hardly so good as the 

 Paris Cos (fig. 129), which succeeds them, and which in my opinion is 



