1890.] History of Garden Vegetables. 635 
salvie ;” in Greece, sphakos, sphakelos ;* in India, seesta, salbeea ;” 
in Hindustani, salbia.” 
SALSIFY. Tragopogon porrifolium L. 
In the thirteenth century Albertus Magnus“ describes a wild 
plant, Oculus porce or flos campi, which commentators identify 
with the salisfy, as having a delectable root, which is eaten, but he 
makes no mention of cultivation. It is described, but apparently 
not under kitchen garden culture by Matthiolus in 15 70and 1598,” 
but not mentioned by him in 1558, when he refers to the yellow- 
flowered species; there is no mention of culture by Camerarius? 
in 1586, but in 1587 Dalechamp™ says itis planted in gardens. 
In 1597 Gerarde® describes it, but apparently as an inmate of 
the flower garden. In 1612 Le Jardinier Solitaire speaks of it 
as under kitchen garden culture in France, and in 1616 Dodo- 
naeus,* J. Bauhin” in 1651, and Ray" in 1686, refer to it as ap- 
parently cultivated. After this period its culture seems to have 
been quite general, as it is referred to in the works on gardening, 
beginning with Quintyne, in 1693. It was in American gardens 
priorto 1806. There are no varieties, and the drawings of an 
early period indicate as improved a root as is now commonly 
rown. 
The Salisfy or oyster plant is called in France, sadsifis, cercifix, 
salsifix blanc, barberon ; in Germany, haferworzel; in Flanders, 
haverwortel ; in Denmark, havrerod; in Italy, barba di becco, 
salsifia ; in Spain, salsifi blanco; in Portugal, cercifi ; in Brazil, 
57 Schubeler. Culturpfi., 8 
Hogg. Hook. Jour. of n I, 134. 
59 Speede. Ind. Handb., of Gard., 182. 
e um Epit., ae w 
6 J. Bauhin. Hist., II., 1059. 
6 Ray. Hist., 1686, 252. 
