THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



young shoots were formerly used like asparagus, and are said to be pleasant to eaL 

 They aie occasionally to be met with in the market, under the name of hop-tops. 

 The hop is only cultivated in the gardens as a climbing plant, either to hide dis- 

 agreeable objects, or as a curiosity. 



Horse-radish, — Cochlcria Aromatica, {Linn.) — belongs to the class and order 

 Tetradynamia Siliquosa, and natural order Crucifcr<c. Is a native of Britain, and is 

 to be found in pastures, but more generally near villages, and in the \'icinity of 

 gardens. It has long been cultivated in our gardens, and is an article of consider- 

 able profit to the market-gardener. Its uses are generally known. The roots lose 

 all their acrimony by drying, first becoming sweet, and then almost insipid. If kept 

 in sand, in a cellar or other such place, the roots retain their acrimony for a long 

 time. 



Hyssop, — Ilyssopus officinalis, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Didynamia 

 Gymnospcrmia, and natural order Lahiatce. Is a native of the south of Europe, and 

 introduced in 154S. This is not the hyssop of the ancients. The leaves are some- 

 times used as a pot-herb, but their principal use is in medicine. Three varieties are 

 cultivated, differing only in the color of their flowers, which are red, white, and blue. 

 The blue is the original color, and the most often cultivated. 



Lavender, — Lovendula spica, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Didynamia 

 Gymnospcrmia, and natural order Labialo". Is a native of the south of Europe, and 

 introduced in 165S. It is seldom or never used in domestic cookery, but is found In 

 every garden, in which it is cultivated for its fragrant spikes, which are either dried, 

 and kept in bags or small bundles, or distilled, and becomes then the well-known 

 lavender-watei of the shops. For this latter purpose, it is cultivated to a consider- 

 able extent, particularly at Mitcham, in Surrey, and Maidenhead, in Berkshire. 



Liquorice, — Glycyrrhiza glabra, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Diadel- 

 phi I Dccandria, and to the natural order Leguminostr. Is a native of the south of 

 Europe, and introduced in 15G2. The planting and growing of hquorice began about 

 the beginning of the reign of Elizabeth. It is only cultivated on a small scale in the 

 gardens, but on an extensive scale in the fields, for the use of brewers and druggists. 



Mint, — Mentha, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Didynamia Gymnospcrmia, 

 and natural order Labiatcr. — There are several species cultivated. 



The Mentha viridis, spearmint, is the most generally used in culinary preparations, 

 being an ingredient in salads, and imparting a flavor to several dishes, such as peas, 

 sauces, ficc 



The Mentha pulegium, pennyroyal, is used in different branches of cookery. 



The Mentha piperita, peppermint, is less used as a culinary herb, but is more used 

 for distillation, for which the other two are also cultivated. 



Potato, — Solanum tuberosum, (Linn.) — belongs to the class and order Pentandria 

 Digynia, and natural order Solavcee. The question as to the country, from which 

 this invaluable root first proceeded, has been as much the subject of argument as the 

 birth-place of Homer. It is supposed by many to be of South American origin. 

 Baron Humboldt says, that it is naturalized in many places there, but he doubts 

 whether it be indigenous. Messrs. Sabine and Lambert agree in its being a native 

 of the western coasts of South America, and also that it is found both in elevated 

 situations in the tropical regions, and in the temperate districts of the western coast. 

 It is supposed that potatoes were first brought into Europe by way of Spain, about 

 the beginning of the sixteenth century, from the mountainous distiicts of Soutn 

 America, in the neighbourhood of Quito. It was introduced into Italy from Spain. 

 In the year I59S, Clusius received the potato into the botanic garden at Vienna, 

 from the governor of Mons, who had received it the preceding year from one of the 

 attendants of iiie Pope's legate, by whom he was informed, that it was then in use 



