A T 



A T 



as Spinach, and is by fome Perfons 

 preferred to it j though, in general, 

 it is not efteemed amongft the Eng- 

 lijh ; bat the French now cultivate 

 this Plant for Ufe. 



The fecond and third Sorts are be- 

 lieved to be Varieties of the firft ; 

 for they differ in nothing from that, 

 but in the Colour of their Stalks and 

 Leaves : however, this Difference is 

 not accidental ; for I have leveral 

 Years cultivated all the three Sorts 

 in the fame Soil, and they have al- 

 ways retained their Difference from 

 Seeds, and have not interchanged, as 

 moft Varieties generally do. 



Thefe Plants are annual; fo mud 

 be fown for Ufe early in the Spring, 

 or at Micbaelmaiytoon after the Seeds 

 are ripe ; at which time it generally 

 fucceeds better than when it is fown 

 in the Spring, and will be fit for Ufe 

 at lead a Month earlier in the Spring. 

 Thefe Plants require no other Cul- 

 ture, but to hoe them when they are 

 about an Inch high ; to cut them 

 down where they are too thick, leav- 

 ing them about four Inches afunder ; 

 and to cut down all the Weeds. 

 When your Plants are grown about 

 four Inches high, it will be proper 

 to hoe them a fecond time, in order 

 to clear them from Weeds ; and, if 

 you oblerve the Plants are left too 

 clofe in any °art, you muft then cut 

 them out. Where thefe Plants are 

 fown on a rich Soil, and allowed a 

 good Diftance, the Leaves will be 

 very large, in which the Goodnefs 

 of the Herb confifts. This muft be 

 eaten while it is young ; for, when 

 the Stalks become tough, it is good 

 for nothing. Some few Plants of 

 each Kind may be permitted to ftand 

 for Seed, to prelerve their Kinds, 

 which will ripen in JuguJ}, and may 

 then be cut, and laid on a Cloth to 

 dry j after which the Seeds may be 

 beaten cut, and put tip for Ufe. 



The firft Sort is ordered by the Col- 

 lege of Phyficians for medicinal 

 Ufe. 



The fourth Sort was formerly cul- 

 tivated in Gardens as a Shrub ; and, 

 by fome Perfons, they were formed 

 into Hedges, and conitantly fheared, 

 to keep them thick : but I do not 

 approve of this Plant for fuch Pur- 

 poles, on many Accounts ; for it is 

 too vigorous : the Shoots, in one 

 Month, at the growing Seafon of 

 the Year, will be two Feet long, pro- 

 vided they have a good Soil ; fo that 

 an Hedge of this Plant cannot be 

 kept in tolerable Order, nor will 

 it ever form a thick Hedge. But 

 a worfe Inconvenience attends this 

 Plant ; for, in very hard Winters, it 

 is often deftroyed ; as alfo, in very 

 dry Summers, many of the Plants 

 will decay, whereby there will be- 

 come large Gaps in the Hedge. 



But although this Plant be not 

 proper for Hedges, yet it may have 

 a Plctce in Wildernefs-quarters, where 

 it will ferve to thicken ; and the 

 filver-coloured Leaves will add to 

 the Variety, amongft c'her Shrubs 

 of the fame Growth. This will grow 

 eight or ten Feet high, and, if fuf- 

 fered to grow wild, without pruning, 

 will fpread feveral Feet in Compafs, 

 and will fometimes produce Flow- 

 ers. 



It may be propagated by Cut- 

 tings, which may be planted in any 

 of the Summer-months, on a fhady 

 Border, where, if they are duly wa- 

 tered, they will foon take Root, and 

 will be fit to tranfplant the Michael' 

 mas following, when they mould be 

 planted where they are to remain ; 

 for they do notfucceed well in tranf- 

 planting when they are grown pretty 

 large and woody. 



The fifth Sort grows wild in di- 

 vers Parts of EnglandfiTL theSea-fide, 

 from whence the Plants may be pro- 

 L z cured .? 



