98 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



the production of sugar from the beet may be profitable even in 

 a land of free labor. 



While the beet, carrot, turnip, cabbage, &c, are used for 

 food under various forms, it should be recollected, that they 

 are more difficult of digestion than the farinaceous vegetables, 

 wheat, potato, &c. 



B. cicla. W. Scarcity, and Mangel Wurtzel. Too extensively 

 cultivated, as food for cattle, not to be known for the amount of 

 its yield suited to that object ; a native of Portugal. The spe- 

 cific name cicla, is said to be a corruption of sicula, by which 

 name Catullus called the plant. Lovdon. 



Spinacia. L. 19. 5. 



&. oleracea. L. Spinach. Spinage is cultivated to some 

 extent, and as a pot-herb is highly esteemed. 



Acnida. L. 20. 5. 



A. cannabina. L. Sea Hemp. Grows in marshes about salt 

 water, with a smooth, erect stem, having leafy spikes of barren 

 flowers on one plant, and fertile flowers on another, with leaves 

 ending in a long, obtuse point ; blossoms in August. Big. The 

 genus has its name from being slingless, and its specific name 

 from its resemblance to the common hemp. 



Atriplex. L. 20. 15. Orache. 



A. hortensis, L. Is cultivated as spinage, and has become 

 naturalized in some parts of this country ; it is called mountain 

 spinage ; from Tartary. More than 30 species are described, 

 though only 5 or 6 are natives of North America, and only half 

 of them are found in this State. 



Jl. patula. L. Spreading Orache. A branched, spreading, 

 herbaceous plant, with spear-form leaves towards the base ; grows 

 in salt marshes. 



A. arenaria. Nutt. Grows in sandy places of the coast, 



