108 



and some of the* Middle States, where they are useful i-, 

 forwarding, to due perfection and flavour^ some late kindy 

 of snperior peaches^ grapes, and other late fruits ; but when 

 walls are built for other purposes, and are conveniently 

 situated, advantage ought to be taken of them for raising 

 fruit; observing to suit the various kinds to the various 

 aspects." — M'Mahon. 



FENNEL. — Anethum fozniculmn, — " The fennel is a per- 

 ennial plant, naturalized in England, and found in chalky 

 soils. The plant rises with finely cut leaves, and capillary 

 leaflets, on a smooth, dark-green, branched, tubular staik, 

 to the height of five or six feet. On the summit are pro- 

 duced umbels of gold-coloured flowers, in July and August. 

 The whole plant is aromatic, and has long been an inmate 

 of the garden. 



" Use, — The tender stalks of common fennel are used in 

 salads ; the leaves, boiled, enter into many fish sauces ; 

 and, raw, are garnishes for several dishes. The blanched 

 stalks of the variety called finochio are eaten with oil, vine- 

 gar, and pepper, as a cold salad, and they are likewise 

 sometimes put into soups. 



" The varieties are — 



The common, or sweet, 



Dark-^reeii-Ieaved; 



Dwart, or finochio. This variety 

 is characterized by a tendency in 

 the stalk to swell to a consider- 

 able thickness. This thickened 

 part is blanched by earthing up, 

 and is then very tender. ' Ow- 



ing" to the peculiar nature of this va- 

 riety/ Neill observ^es, ' it is more 

 tender than the common fennel, and 

 often perishes in the course of the 

 winter. Misled by this circum- 

 stance, several horticultural writers 

 describe it as an annual species, un- 

 der the appellation A. segetum.' 



Propagation, — They are all raised from seed, of which 

 half an ounce is sufficient for a seed-bed four feet by six 

 feet. Sometimes, also, they are raised from offsets from the 

 old plants, where only a few are wanted. ' Sow in the 

 spring in light earth, either in drills from six to twelve 

 inches apart, or broad-cast and raked in. When the plants 

 are three or four inches high, thin or transplant a quantity 

 fifteen inches asunder. As the roots of old plants divide 

 into side offsets, these may be slipped off in spring, sum- 

 mer, or autumn, and planted a foot apart. They will pro- 

 duce immediate leaves for present supply, and in continu- 

 ance ; or, for an immediate larger supply of leaves, you may 

 procure some established full roots, and plant as above : let 

 them be well watered.' 



" Suhsequerd culture. — ' The same plants remain several 

 years by the root ; but as fennel sends up strong stems for 



