17 



2002. Physalis violaoea. Strawberry tomato. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



" Mexico tomato.'' Not very .good f5 eat, bat used in medicine. May be useful in 

 hybridizing. 



2003. Atriplex hortensis. Orach. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Good Henry." This is an old garden vegetable; a perennial. " Stems 5 to 6^ 

 feet high, angular, and furrowed; flowers small, leaves broad, arrow-shaped, slightly 

 crimped, soft, and pliable. The seed is sown where the plants are to stand, in the 

 open ground, usually in drills. When the seedlings have made three or four leaves 

 they should be thinned out, after which they require no further attention, except 

 occasional watering in very dry weather. The plants bear hot weather pretty well, 

 but soon run to seed, on which account it is advisable to make successional sowings 

 from month to mouth. The leaves are eaten boiled, like spinach." ( Vilmorin.) 



2004. SOLANUM MELONGENA. Eggplant. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Very early violet De Barbentane." "This eggplant is one of the best. It comes 

 from a region renowned for the production of vegetables, especially the finer varie- 

 ties. Very productive, should be tried everywhere, especially in the regions where 

 the summers are short and it is impossible to mature the ordinary varieties." 

 (Vilmorin.) 



2005. Arctium lappa. Japanese burdock. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Giant large-leaved." According to Vilmorin this merits the serious attention of 

 the plant breeder. Biennial, 5 to 7 feet high ; involucre smooth, without the hooked 

 spines which characterize the ordinary burdock. It produces several fleshy roots 12 

 to 18 inches long within 4 months from the seed. The roots, when cooked, are said 

 to taste like bar artichokes and asparagus. The seed should be sown in drills 8 to 12 

 inches apart, about the middle of June. The roots may be cooked like those of 

 salsify or vegetable oyster. 



2006. Basella rubra. Basella. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"White basella." Highly recommended by M. Henry Vilmorin as a summer veg- 

 etable. The leaves and young shoots are cooked like spinach. It is a vine which 

 serves beautifully to cover arbors and outbuildings. The flowers are very pretty. 



2007. Basella cordifolia. Heart-shaped basella. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



See No. 2006, to which this is closely related. Both vines are cultivated in India. 

 The leaves are fleshy, and when cooked have a pear flavor. 



2008. Ocimum basilicum. Sweet basil. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Large violet." A tender annual, native of India. The leaves, which have a 

 clove flavor, are used for flavoring soups, sauces, etc. The plants are erect, much 

 branched, and leafy. The seed may be sown in rows and the plants thinned to 15 

 or 18 inches apart, or in hotbeds, and transplanted when the ground is warm. The 

 plants are cut off close to the ground when in bud, and after curing in a warm dry 

 place the leaves are pressed into cakes. Treated in this way and kept dry the leaves 

 retain their flavor several years. 



2009. Ocimum minimum. Dwarf basil. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



"Dwarf, compact, violet." A condiment; new variety, resembling iSo. 2008, but 

 more dwarf and compact ; the leaves are smaller. 



9347—^o. 5 2 



