obS HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



t nation. Although this plant is neglected by us in Scot- 

 land, it is here found extremely useful. The young leaves 

 are used in salads, and for this purpose successive sowings 

 are made in gardens. When die plant is raised in fields, 

 the outer-leaves are plucked at successive periods of the 

 summer and autumn, and given to milch-cows (as already 

 noticed, p. 87.) Cows fed on them are said to yield 

 generally about a third more milk than when on ordinary 

 fodder ; but at first, we understand, the milk acquires some- 

 what of a bitterish taste. This kind of green food is al- 

 so accounted excellent for promoting the production of 

 butter. At the approach of winter, the roots of the su<£ 

 cory-plants are dug up and stored in a cellar or out-house. 

 They are laid horizontally on a bed composed of sand or 

 light soil, with the crowns or heads outermost and un- 

 covered ; a thin layer of soil is then added ; then another 

 row of roots ; and this is repeated till the bed be perhaps 

 three or four feet high. It is only necessary that the 

 place in which the roots are thus stored, be defended from 

 frost ; light is not only unnecessary, but would be prejudi- 

 cial. Here they afford the blanched shoots called Barbe- 

 de-Capucin, much relished as a winter sallad. Sometimes, 

 our friend told us, the roots are packed among moist sand 

 in a barrel, having numerous round holes pierced in its 

 sides : the crowns of the succory plants are so placed, that 

 the shoots may readily push their way through the holes : 

 they are thus kept quite clean, are very easily gathered as 

 wanted, and repeated cuttings are obtained. When sent 

 to market, the roots are generally drawn from the beds, 

 and tied in bunches, with the etiolated shoots attached to* 

 them. 



On banks by the di^ch sides near the Forest, the annual 

 turnsole, Heliotropium Europeeum, was growing pretty 



