352 JOUKNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Salsify. 



Tragopogon porrifolius, L., was cultivated much more in the j 

 sixteenth and following centuries than to-day. It occurs wild in North | 

 and Middle Europe, as well as in Greece, Dalmatia, and Italy. The j 

 name is derived from the ItaHan word sassefrica, evidently the same as 

 saxifraga. 



The sixteenth-century botanists all describe the goat's-beard j 

 {T, fratensis, L.) and refer to the Greek names Tragopogon and 

 Come, and the Latin Barha hirci. Dodoens has a figure and adds: 



Fig. 124, — Tuenip Form of Eadish raised by M. Careiere from the 



Wild Radish. 



I 



" There are two kinds, one yellow, the other with a purple flower " 

 (1559). Gerard appears to be the first to figure the salsify as T. piir- 

 pureus, purple goat's-beard. He describes both species as having 

 the same medicinal virtues. With regard to the use as a vegetable, j 

 he says of the roots: "Boiled in water untill they be tender, and j 

 buttered as Parsnips and Carrots are a most pleasant meate and whole- 

 some, in delicate taste farre surpassing' either Parsnip or Carrot." 

 Gerard observes though not wild in England it was cultivated in ( 

 gardens for the beautie of the flowers, almost every where. " 



SCORZONERA. 



Scorzonera liispanica, L., or viper's grass, was introduced from 

 Spain in 1576, and Gerard appears to be the first writer who alludes 

 to it. He says : " Viper's grasse is called of the Spaniards Scorzonera, 

 which soundeth in Ijatine Viperaria, or Viperina, or Serpentaria, so 



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