720 The American Naturalıst. [ August, 
1542 figures the Skirret, as does also Ruellius? in 1550, Tragus* 
in 1552, and many others after this time, and it was well known 
in Europe as a plant of culture at this period. It perhaps came, 
says Decandolle,> from Siberia to Russia, and from thence into 
Germany. It is not named by Turner® in 1538, but isin 1551,’ and 
in 1570 the Adversaria gives the English name as scyrret. It was 
in American gardens in 1775? There are no varieties described. 
The modern names of the Skirret are: In France, chervis, 
chirouis, giroles; in Germany, Zuckerwurzel; in Flanders, 
suiberwortel ; in Denmark, sukkerrod ; in Italy, szsaro ; in Spain, 
chirivia tudesca ; in Portugal, cherivia ;? in Scotland, crummock ;" 
in India, cheena aloo ;" in Japan, muskago nisin sjakuna.” 
- The ancient names, as given by J. Bauhin,? are: For Germany» 
gierlin, gierlen, geyerlein, gorlin, gerlin, klingei, rublin, garten 
rapunzel, zam rapunzel, klein morellen, klingel mohren, girgele, 
girgehn, and, above all others, zucker wurtsel; in Belgian, 
suycker wortelen, serillen; in French, esthervis, chervits, chervy, 
gyroles ; in Italy, sisaro,; in Spain, cherivias, chirivias, chirimas ; 
in English, seyrret. 
SNAILS. Medicago scutellata All. 
This plant is not edible, but like the caterpillar-plant is grown 
on account of the singular shape of its seed-vessels. It was in 
Belgian and German gardens preceding 1616, and in American 
gardens in 1863 or before.” 
Called in France, macon; in Germany, schnirkel-schnecke, 
schneckenklee ; in Spain, caracol. 
EIER "ipte: 1550, 239 
Burr. Field and Gard. V. c d 398. 
Y Vilmorin. Les Pl. Pot., we 
