&60 



PRACTICE OF GARDENING. 



Part III. 



the plan of giving excess of water is peculiar, and that the vigorous growth of the 

 plant is more dependent on richness of soil than on any other cause. Abercrombie 

 directs to earth up the bulbs four or five inches^ to blanch thera when they are full 

 grown. 



4018. 2\> save seed. " Either leave some established plants in the spring where grow- 

 ing ; or in Februarj-^ or March dig up a competent number, cut down the top leaves, and 

 set the plants in the ground, full two feet asunder. They will produce seed in autumn." 



4019. Walker grows only red celery ; and in preparing plants for seed, chooses the most solid, of the 

 reddest color, and the smallest size. When taken out of the transplanting-hed, the lateral shoots being 

 removed, they should be planted in a dry warm situation, where the seed wUl ripen well. 



SuB6"ECT. 6. Mustard. — Sinapis, L. Tetradynamia SUiquosa, L. and Ci-uciferce, J. 

 Smeve, Fr. ; Sevf, Ger. ; and Senajm, Ital. 



4020. Of mustard there are two species in cultivation, the black ajid the lohite ; an- 

 nuals, and natives of Britain. 



4021. Tlie white mustard is the Sinapis alba, L. {Eng. Bot. t. 1677.) It grows na- 

 turally in corn-fields, and flowers in June and July. The leaves are pinnatifid, the 

 pod round and rough, and abruptly terminated. The seed is yellow, and, as well as 

 the flowers, is larger than those of the black species. 



4022. Use. This species is cultivated chiefly as a small salad, and is used like cressea 

 while in the seed ; when these are newly expanded, they are mild and tender ; but when 

 the plants have advanced into the rough leaves, they eat rank and disagreeable. 



4023. Culture. For spring and summer consumption, sow once a week, or fortnight, in dry warm situ- 

 ations, in February and March ; and afterwards in any other compartment. " In summer, sow in shady 

 borders, if it be hot sunny weather; or have the bed shaded. Generally sow in shallow flat drills, frora 

 three to six inches apart ; scatter the seed thick and regular, and cover in thinly with the earth, about a 

 quarter of an inch. To fui-nish gatherings in winter, or early in spring, sow in frames or under hand- 

 glasses ; and when the weather is frosty or very cold, in hot-beds and stoves, as directed for cress." 



4024. To save seed. Either sow a portion in March or April, to stand for that purpose ; or, for small 

 supplies, leave some rows of the spring sowing, grown too large for salads ; they will ripen seed in 

 autumn. 



4025. The black mustard is the iS*. nigra, L. {Eng. Bot. 969.) the seneve of the French. 

 It is frequent in corn-fields. It is altogether a larger plant than the white, with much 

 darker leaves, and their divisions blunter. The flowers are small, the pods smooth, and 

 lying close to the stem. 



4026. Use. Black mustard is chiefly cultivated in fields for the miU,. and for medicinal purposes. It is 

 sometimes, however, sowti in gardens, and the tender leaves used as greens early in spring. The seed- 

 leaves, in common with those of the cress, radish, rape, &c. are sometin^ies used as a salad ingredient ; but 

 the grand purpose for which the plant is cultivated is for seeds, which, ground, produce the well known 

 condiment. If the seeds. Dr. Cullen observes, be taken fresh from the plant, and ground, the powder 

 has little pungency, but is very bitter ; by steeping in vinegar, however, the essential oil is evolved, and 

 the powder becomes extremely pungent. In moistening mustard-powder for tiie table, it may be re- 

 marked, that it makes the best appearance when rich milk is used; but the mixture in this oase does not 

 keep good for more than two days. The seeds of both the black and white mustard are often used in an 

 entire state medicinally. 



4027. Culture for the 7niU. " To raise seed for flower of mustard, and other officinal occasions sow, 

 either in March or April, generally the black sort, or occasionally the white, in any open compartment : 

 or make large sowings in fields, where designed for public supply. Sow moderately thick, either in drills 

 from six to twelve inches asunder, or broad-cast, and rake or harrow in the seed. When the plants are 

 two or three inches in the growth, hoe, or thin them moderately, where too thick, and clear them from 

 weeds. They will soon run up in stalks ; and in July or August return a crop of seed, ripe for gather- 

 ing." {Abercrombie.) 



SuBSECT. 7. Ra2)e. — Brassica Kapvs, L. var. oleifera, Dec. {Eng. Bot. t. 2146.) 

 Tetrad. Siliq, L. and Crucifercey J. Navette, Fr. ; Repskohl, Ger. ; and N^ajjo sal~ 

 vatico, Ital. 



4028. The rape is a biennial plant, a native of Britain, and distinguished by its glau- 

 cous root-leaves, and yellow flowers, wliich appear in April. 



4029. Use. Rape is cultivated in gardens as a small salad herb, to be gathered 

 young in the seed-leaves, and used in cresses and mustard. Like these, it has a warm 

 flavor, and is recommended as a stomachic. The plant is also much used in agriculture. 



403G. Culture for small salading. Sow at the same time with cresses, mustard, &c. in winter and 

 spring ; or at any season when smaU salading is required. Sow in drills or beds, and follow the culture 

 directed for White Mustard. 



4031. To save seed. Transplant two or three plants any time during the summer, and they will flower 

 and seed the second year abundantly. 



SuBSECT. 8. Corn-Salad, or Lamb-Lettiice. — Valeriana Locusta, L. ; Fedia olUoriaf 

 Willd. {Eng. Bot. 811.) Triandria Monogyn. L. scoA Dipsacece, J. Mdche, Fr. ; 

 Ackersalat, Ger. j and Valei-ianello, Ital. 



4032. The corn-salad is a diminutive annual plant, common in corn-fields or sandy 

 soils. The leaves are long and narrow, of a pale glaucous hue, the lower ones rather 

 succulent. The flowers are very small, pale-bluish, and collected into a close little 

 corymb ; they appear in the open fields in April. When cultivated, it rises a foot high. 



