
1891.] The History of Garden Vegetables. : 695 
The names assigned by Vilmorin to the sugar beet are: France, 
betteraves a sucre ; Germany, zucker-rube ; Flanders and Holland, 
sutker-wortel ; Spain, remolacha de azucar, betabel de azucar; 
Portugal, detarava branca d'assucar. 
The discovery of sugar in the beet is credited to Margraff in 
1747, announced in a memoir read before the Berlin Academy of 
Sciences. 
SWEET CICELY. Myrrhis odorata Scop. 
This aromatic herb can scarcely be considered as an inmate of 
American gardens, although recorded by Burr® in 1863. It has 
also fallen into disuse in Europe, although yet retained by Vil- 
morin” among garden vegetables. In 1597 Gerarde® says the 
leaves are “ exceeding good, holsom, and pleasant among other 
sallade herbes, giving the taste of anise unto the rest.” In 1778 
Mawe? records that it is used rarely in England. Pliny seems 
to refer to its usein ancient Rome, under the name azthriscus. 
It finds notice in most of the early botanies. 
Sweet cicely or sweet-scented chervil or sweet fern is called in 
France, cerfeuil musque, cerfeuil d’ Espagne, cerfeuil anise, cicutaire 
odorante, fougere musquee, myrrhide odorante, persil d'ane de 
Lobel; in Germany, grosser spanischer wohlriechender kerbel ; in 
Flanders, spaansche kervel; in Denmark, spanske kyjorvel ; in 
Italy, finocchiella® or mirride ” 
SWEET MARJORAM. Origanum sp. 
But two species are enumerated by Vilmorin for European 
culture, but several other species were formerly grown. The 
leaves of all are used for seasoning. 
Origanum vulgare L. 
This aromatic herb, a native of Europe, has become natural- 
ized sparingly in the Atlantic states, and is quite variable, afford- 
ing a dwarf variety to culture. It is supposed to be the Cunila 
TVilmorin. Les Pl. Pot., 1883, 79- 
. +» 1778. 
Pliny. Lib. XXII., c. 38. 
u Pickering. Ch. Hist., 488. 
