DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



55 



mer and early autumn. One of the best sorts for a 

 small garden or family use. 



Victoria.— Very large leaf stalks, two or three inches 

 in diameter at the broadest part, and often two or three 

 feet in length. A well developed stalk, divested of the 

 leaf, will weigh about two pounds. They are stained 

 with red at the base, and finely spotted to the nerves of 

 the leaf. 



Giant.— This is a very large and late green variety, 

 with round stalks of great length and thickness ; pro- 

 duces a succession of stalks the whole season ; held in 

 high estimation by market gardeners. 



Salsify, or Vegetable Oyster. 



Fr Salsz/is. — Ger. Schivarwurzel. 



The Salsify has a long, white, 

 tapering root, nearly resembling a 

 small parsnip. When properly 

 cooked, it has the flavor of an oys- 

 ter, and is a good substitute for it. 



Culture. — It succeeds best in a 

 light, well enriched soil, which 

 should be stirred to the depth of 

 twelve or fourteen inches. If it is 

 necessary to use manure, it should 

 be very fine and well i^otted, as if 

 it is fresh and coarse, the roots will 

 grow irregular and ill shaped. Give 

 the general culture recommended 

 for the parsnip. The roots are 

 perfectly hardy, and may remain 

 out all winter. Store a quantity 

 for use packed in earth or sand. 

 Those remaining in the ground 

 should be dug before commencing 

 growth in the spring. 



Salsify. SPINAGE. 



Fr. Epinard — Ger. Spinat. 

 The Spinage is very hardy, and consequently a very 

 important vegetable for cold climates. It merits atten- 

 tion from being extremely wholesome and palatable, and 

 from its green color, even after having been cooked. It 

 makes a delicious dish of greens, when served up with 

 the gravy of ro^ist meat, melted butter, &c., or simply 

 boiled and eaten with vinegar. 



Culture. — For summer use, sow in very rich ground 

 — the richer the better — in early spring, in drills one 

 foot apart. Thin by degrees, commencing when the 

 leaves are an inch wide, and continue regularly till the 

 plants stand six 

 mches apart. This 

 sowing must be cut 

 before the approach 

 oi hot weather, or 

 u will run to seed. 

 For early spring 

 use, the seed should 

 be sown early in 

 lutumn, and every 

 I wo weeks there- 

 after, if a succes- 

 sion is desired. In 

 the Northern 

 States, the plants will require a slight protection of 

 leaves or straw, but in the Southern States, no protec- 

 tion is necessary, and they will continue their growth 

 most of the winter. 



Round Summer. — This variety is generally preferred 

 .for early sowing, and is the most popular with our mar- 



^-^*i^"' ^ /=== 



Thick-Leaved Summer. 



ket gardeners ; leaves large, thick and fleshy ; not quite 

 so hardy as the Prickly, but stands the winter very well. 



Improved Thick-Leaved Summer. — An improve- 

 ment on the preceding, with larger and thicker leaves, 

 and of more substance. Particularly recommended for 

 market garden use. 



Savoy-Leaved. — The leaves of this variety are large, 

 of good substance, and much wrinkled or curled, like 

 the Savoy cabbage. It is a winter variety, and grow- 

 ing in favor ; in the 



Southern States, it is ^^^^%.m^^ 



preferred to all oth- •^T^- 



ers. It is said by 

 Southern market gar- 

 deners to yield twice 

 the bulk of leaves of 

 any other sort. 



Prickly Winter. 

 — The hardiest vari- 

 ety, and will with- 

 stand the severest 

 weather, with only a slight protection of leaves or straw. 

 The seed is prickly, leaves triangular, oblong, or arrow 

 shaped. It is employed for fall sowing, which in this 

 latitude, is made about the first of September. 



Prickly Wmter. 



SQUASH. 



Fr, Courge. — Ger. Kiierbis. 



The Squash is one of the most nutritious and valua- 

 ble of all our garden vegetables. The summer varieties 

 come to the table early in the season, and are very pal- 

 atable, while the winter sorts can be had in perfection 

 from August until the summer varieties are again in 

 condition. Few farmers appreciate the value of winter 

 squash as food for stock. We think an acre of squash, 

 costing no more to cultivate, and much less to secure, 

 will give twice as much food available for feeding stock 

 as an acre of corn, and we strongly urge our readers to 

 try a " patch " for this purpose. 



Culture. — The plants are very tender and sensitive 

 to cold, and planting must be delayed until settled, 

 warm weather. The general principles of culture are 

 the same as those given for cucumbers and melons, but 

 the plants are less particular as to soil. The summer 

 varieties should be planted six feet apart each way, and 

 the winter sorts eight by eight ; three plants are suffi- 

 cient for a hill ; and care should be taken not to injure 

 or break the stem from those intended for winter use, as 

 the slightest injury will increase the liability to decay. 



Early Yellow Bush Scallop.— An early, flat, scal- 

 lop shaped variety ; 

 color yellow; flesh 

 pale yellow, tolerably 

 fine grained and well 

 flavored ; very produc- 

 tive; used when young 

 and tender for boiling, 

 and at maturity for 

 making pies. 



Eariy White Bush 

 S c a 1 1 op.— Identical 

 with the preceding, 



except in color, which c i d u c„.,ii 



is white. Early Busii Scallop. 



Summer Crookneck.— The richest and best sort for 

 summer ; very early and productive. It is small, crooked 

 neck, covered with watery excrescences, the more the 

 better ; color bright yellow ; shell very hard when ripe. 

 The best of the summer kinds. 



