518 
THE ORACHE. 
summer. It is increased freely by dividing 
the old roots when in a state of rest. It 
flowers in June and July, and obtains a 
height of two or three feet.' — Common in the 
higher parts of Anganguco and Ajusco, at an 
elevation of 10,000 feet on the mountains of 
El Guardo, Mr. Hartweg, February, 1846. 
Stigmaphyllon mucronatum, (mucronate- 
leaved Stigmaphyllon.) — This is a twining 
plant with flesy roots and opposite ovate ob- 
long leaves terminated by a small point. They 
are of a bright light green colour, and have a 
pair of glands on the stalk just where the 
leaf sets on. The flowers are of a rich canary 
yellow, rather larger than a shilling, with 
spoon-shaped brown petals, delicately fringed 
and wrinkled ; they grow in small clusters. 
In this country it must be treated as a green- 
house plant. It will succeed best if planted 
out ill the border of the house and trained up 
the rafters. When kept in a pot it is neces- 
sary to have a trellis made, round which the 
branches can be trained. Any good garden 
soil seems to suit it, and it strikes readily 
enough from cuttings. As it has a thick 
fleshy root, it requires but a small supply of 
water after it has made its growth for the 
season. If the species flowers freely, it will 
be a desirable plant owing to its neat habit, 
which is that of the Stigmaphyllons in culti- 
vation. It is the Banisteria mucronata of De 
Candolle. — Mexico, Mr. Hugo Finch. 
THE SORREL. 
The Sorrel (Rimiex Acetosa of Linnseus) 
is a native of Britain, common in meadows 
and pastures, and has no doubt been always 
used as a salad herb, on account of its grateful 
acidity. Two varieties have been long culti- 
vated in this country ; for three other varieties 
we are indebted to our French neighbours, who 
so much excel us in this particular branch of 
gardening. 
The Common Sorrel differs little or nothing 
from the wild plant, except that the richer 
ground of the gardens may render its leaves 
larger and more succulent. It is the least 
worthy of cultivation of any of the varieties. 
The Broad-leaved Sorrel, is distinguished 
from the former by having a larger, rounder, 
and more succulent leaf, and is a far superior 
sort, and is the variety generally grown in 
this country. 
The Blistered-leaved Sorrel, differs from 
both the preceding, in having the surface of 
its leaves swelled between the veins so as to 
appear blistered. The leaves are about nine 
inches long, on longish footstalks, and the 
flower-stems are short and late in shooting, so 
that the leaves are longer in a fit state to use 
than those of the others. It is a variety of 
the broad-leaved sorrel, but it is not so 
acid. 
The Mountain Sorrel {Rumex montaiius) 
was formerly considered only a variety of tne 
common species, and is a native of alpine 
pastures in various parts of Europe. The 
leaves are large, thin in texture, and of a pale 
green colour, about nine inches long, and 
slightly blistered. It is later in running to 
seed than the common sorrel, and is very acid 
in flavour. 
The Green Mountain Sorrel, is a highly 
improved variety of the last, producing great 
quantities of leaves, which are very acid. 
They are of a dark shining green colour, 
nearly a foot long, and slightly blistered. It 
is the latest of all the sorts in running to seed, 
and is altogether the best to grow. 
All these plants should be propagated by 
parting the old roots, as if grown from seeds 
they are very liable to revert to either the 
first or third sorts, the others being mere 
varieties, which soon lose their distinguishing- 
properties, if not well cultivated. At an}' 
time during the winter or spring, in dry open 
weather, a border should be selected and well 
dunged and dug, and the roots planted in 
rows a foot or eighteen inches apart, according 
to the variety selected. They require little 
further attention than to keep them clear of 
weeds, and the ground occasionally stirred 
about them. The strongest and youngest por- 
tions of the roots should be selected, and in- 
serted up to the crowns. If in good ground 
they will afford several cuttings during the 
season, ere they become too tough, or the 
flower-stalks rise, and even then by cutting 
them over and watering them if the weather 
prove dry ; later supplies may be obtained 
from any old plants it may be intended to 
destroy in the ensuing winter. 
THE ORACHE. 
The Garden Orache, or Mountain Spinach 
(Atriplex hortensis), used to be very exten- 
sively cultivated as a substitute for spinach 
during the summer, but is now very little 
grown for that purpose. A small number 
of plants will be found sufficient for the 
supply of a small family, whilst the deep 
colours and various veining of the leaves 
will recommend the varieties to some for 
ornamental purposes. As is the case in many 
other instances, this plant is much more 
extensively cultivated on the Continent than 
with us ; and it would be rather difficult to 
assign a good reason for its almost total 
neglect in this country. 
The original plant is said to be a native of 
various parts of Tartary, and was introduced 
to this country in 1548. 
