50 History of Garden Vegetables. [Jan. 
Pineapple and Strawberry, species which by American gardeners 
are included among fruits. In the matter of references the cita- 
tions are all taken directly from the sources indicated, quoted 
references being in all cases so acknowledged in the notes. In 
a work of this character, where the conclusions can oftentimes 
seem questionable, it is important that facilities for corroboration 
should be freely offered, hence I have made my apm to 
editions and pages. 
AFRICAN VALERIAN. Valeriana cornucopie L. 
The African valerian is a recent introduction to gardens, and 
furnishes in its leaves salad of excellent quality. The plant is 
native to the Mediterranean region, in grain-fields in waste places. 
C. Bauhin,? in 1596, speaks of it as if of recent introduction to 
botanical gardens in his time, and Clusius, in 1601, J. Bauhin, in 
1651, and Ray,* in 1686, all describe it. 
It is not spoken of as under cultivation in Miller’s Diction- 
ary, 1807, nor does Don in his “ Gardeners’ Dictionary,” 1834, 
speak of any use, although he is usually very ready with such 
information. In 1841 the “ Bon Jardinier” in France refers to it 
as being a good salad plant. As neither Noisette,5 1830, nor 
Petit, 1826, nor Pirolle,? 1824, mention it, we may assume that it 
had not entered the vegetable garden at these dates. In 1863, 
Burr® describes it among American garden vegetables, as does 
Vilmorin?’ in France in 1883, and in England in 188 
No varieties are described, although a purple- and a white- 
- flowered form are mentioned by Bauhin as occurring in the 
wild plant. The one sort now described has pink- or rose-colored 
flowers. 
The vernacular names, as given by Vilmorin, are: English, 
African Valerian; French, Valériane ad’ Alger, Corne d'abondance; 
German, Algerischer Baldrian; Flemish, Speenkrutd ; Dutch, 
Speerkruid. 
* Bauhin, Phytopin., 1596, 293; Pin., 1623, 164; Prod., 1671, 87. 
2 Clusius, Hist., 1601, 2, 54. 
3 J. Bauhin, Hist., 1651, iii. ae 2, 212. 
4 Ray, Hist., 1686, 
a 
E Barr, Field and Gard, Veg., 1863, 401. 
9 Vilmorin, Les Pl. Pot., 1883, 562; The Veg. Gard., 1885, 593. 
