308 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



the leaf-stalk ; flowers yellow, large, in leafy terminal clusters ; 

 seed-vessels long, furrowed, narrowed at both ends ; seeds small, 



brown, with five or six flat facets. 

 Their germinating power lasts for 

 three y^ars. The culture and uses of 

 this plant are almost the same as those 

 of the Salsafy. It is more, however, 

 as a curiosity that we mention it, 

 although its rather tender and fleshy 

 root is sometimes used as a table 

 vegetable. It should be employed 

 for this purpose at the end of the first 

 year of its growth, when the plant 

 has put forth only one rosette of 

 leaves. 



FENNEL 



U mbellifercB. 



French^ Fenouil. German, Fenchel. Flemish 

 and Dutch, Venkel. Danish, Fennikel. 

 Italian, Finocchio. Spa7iish, Hinojo. 



Native of Southern Europe. — 

 Perennial. — The following three plants of the genus Foenicidum 

 are in cultivation, and most authors are agreed in thinking that 

 each of them should be referred to a difl"erent botanical species. 



Common Wild, or Bitter, Fennel {Foeiticulum vulgare, Gaertn.). 

 — Perennial. — Rather common in France in the wild state. Leaves 

 very much divided into thread-like segments ; leaf-stalks broad, . 

 almost membranous, clasping the stem, which is smooth, hollow, 

 and about 5 ft. high ; flowers green, in broad, terminal umbels ; 

 seeds long, round at both ends, and retaining the remains of the 

 withered stigma, dark gray in colour, with five ribs, three of which 

 are on the back of the seed, and one at each side. Their germi- 

 nating power lasts for four years. This plant requires no attention. 

 It is perennial and hardy to such a degree that it is often found 

 growing on old walls, rubbish-heaps, etc. Sometimes, but rarely, 

 the leaves are used for seasoning. The plant is chiefly grown for 

 its seeds, which are often used in the manufacture of liqueurs. 



Common Garden, or Long Sweet, Fennel {Fceniculum 

 officinale^ All. ; Anethum Fceniculum, L. Fenouil Doux). — Native of 

 Southern Europe. — Biennial, or annual in cultivation. — Although 

 this plant bears some resemblance to the Wild Fennel, it differs 

 from it in having much stouter stems, and the leaves much less 

 divided, the segments being also of larger size, and of a more 

 glaucous green. It also differs in the remarkable size of the leaf- 

 stalk, the sides of which spread and are curved in such a manner 



