156 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



plants ; a family whose wholesomeness is very suspicious. 

 Its seeds are said to excite vomiting. 



Barbarca Precox — American Cress. 



A biennial plant, with yellow flowers, the radical leaves 

 of which are lyre shaped, and the upper ones pinnatified, 

 and cultivated in some gardens as a winter salad. Often 

 it is called watercress at the South. 



Sow either in drills or broadcast in a moist place, the 

 last of August, September, or early in October, giving 

 water in dry, hot weather. Let the plants remain six or 

 eight inches apart. Preserve a few good plants for seed. 



Use. — It is generally liked as a winter or early spring 

 salad somewhat like the watercress, but more bitter. 



Barlarca Vulgaris — "Winter Cress. 



Resembles the foregoing, but is a perrennial plant with 

 larger leaves. The use and culture are the same. Less 

 bitter than the foregoing. 



Beta — Beet. 



Of this genus there are two species cultivated in gar- 

 dens, viz. : Beta Cicla, and Beta Vulgaris — the latter of 

 which has many varieties. 



Beta Vulgaris — Common Beet. 



This is a biennial plant, a native of the seacoasts of the 

 south of Europe, and is said to have been cultivated for 

 its beautiful red roots long before its edible properties 

 were discovered. 



It was introduced into England by Tradescant, in the 

 year 1656. Its name is said to come from the resem- 

 blance of its seed to the letter Beta of the Greek alphabet 



