524 
ASPARAGUS OF THE COSSACKS.^ CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS. 
THE ASPARAGUS OF THE COSSACKS. 
This plant proves to be the Typha latifolia, 
a species well known, and very widely distri- 
buted over the globe. The rootstocks of the 
Typhas are said to abound in starch, so that 
their qualities are nutritious. We shall quote 
an abridgement of an article on this subject in 
a recent number of the Ghent Annales, which 
has some interest in connexion with the ques- 
tion of the capacities of vegetation to supply 
us with daily food : — 
" The authors of a humorous publication 
at Brussels introduced, in 1847, the subject 
of the potato disease into their pages. They 
have enumerated, in verse, the names of va- 
rieties of the famous Solanum tuberosum, and 
have called the attention of horticulturists to 
the potato of Bokhara, that reputed happy 
capital, inhabited by Tartars, Jews, Turco- 
mans, Mussulmen, and Cossacks. Our friends, 
however, have humbly acknowledged that 
they are entirely ignorant of the nature of 
this potato ; but. thanks to the kind of free- 
masonry which exists among botanists through- 
out the world, we are enabled to put this 
extolled plant into the 'hands of these same 
friends. On obtaining this potato of Bokhara, 
we soon perceived that it was a plant totally 
difterent from the Solanum, and one with 
which we had long been familiar ; and, on 
referring to Dr. Clarke's Travels, we found 
we had before ns the history of this pretended 
potato of the Bokharians. The plant which 
• they eat instead of potatoes is an aquatic. 
For three centuries it has been called by the 
French, Marteau or Masse ; the Greeks have 
named it rixpr} ; the Latins, Typha ; the Ger- 
mans, Quarrenkolhen or Liefsknoj^sen; the 
Flemings, Lisch-dodden, or, simply, Donsen. 
It is the Typha latifolia of botanists. 
" We cultivate the Typha latifolia as an 
ornamental plant in ponds ; but it naturally 
abounds in our waters where the depth is not 
too great. M. de Pitteurs-Hiegaerts had many 
thousand stems from the Lake of Leau ; and 
if we are correctly informed, the leaves were 
only employed for litter, and the dried stems 
and rhizomes for fuel. What a glorious feast 
they would have aiforded, when young, for 
the Cossacks ! In the Campine Limbourgeoise 
the ponds are full of these plants ; and they 
have begun to propagate themselves in the 
pieces of water on the line of the Vesdre, on 
both sides of the railroad. 
" Dr. Clarke gives full details respecting 
the utility of the Typha. He found the in- 
habitants of Tcherkask so enthusiastic with 
respect to the excellence of the shoots of the 
typha, that they regarded it as a sacred plant, 
a special gift of Providence. The lower parts 
of the stem are brought to the tables at every 
meal ; and in every house bundles are to be 
found, about three feet in length, tied like 
asparagus, ready for use. It is sold in the 
markets, and amongst the provision merchants. 
It is best used in spring, like our asparagus, 
when the plants begin to shoot. It is said 
that in this state it forms a dish which those 
that have once partaken desire again with 
increasing relish. 
" The Cossacks are still more choice in 
their use of the Typha. They peel off the 
cuticle and select tlie blanched tender part, 
usually about eighteen inches in length, near 
the root ; and this constitutes a dish, cool, 
agreeable, and wholesome. '\The Cossacks, 
rich or poor, young or old, prefer this vege- 
table to all others ; and Dr. Clarke states, 
from his own experience, during his sojourn 
among the inhabitants on the banks of the 
Don, that the Typha was a very nutritious 
and excellent dish. 
" The Typha is prepared like asparagus, 
being cut, like the latter, when the young 
shoots are pushing ; the tender blanched part 
is boiled in water seasoned with salt, and 
served up in the same way as asparagus. The 
various culinary preparations to which the 
asparagus is subjected are equally applicable to 
the Typha ; for it may be cut, stewed, pre- 
pared for serving up with yolk of eggs, en- 
hancing the flavour with nutmeg and salt. 
The Typha, therefore, which ornaments the 
sides of our lakes and ponds with its elegant 
foliage and singular tops, may be turned to 
useful account ; for although the plant is 
eaten, both by Tartar and Cossack, that is no 
reason why one, being neither, should not 
avail himself of that which God has created 
good. Even the French cooks employ various 
culinary plants for which we are indebted to 
the Cossacks, among which we may mention 
tarragon, and a delicious rhubarb." 
CONTEMPORARY WRITINGS AND ORIGINAL NOTES. 
Raising the Pinus Tribe. — All sorts of 
pines and firs worth cultivating are propa- 
gated by seeds. The ripe cones of these trees 
are either to be exposed to a gentle heat, or 
soaked for twelve hours in warm water; after 
which the several cells will open, and the 
seeds fall out. These seeds should never be 
taken out till the time of sowing them, which 
is March. The ground they are to be sown 
in must be carefully turned several times to 
remove the roots of weeds ; after this the 
earth is to be levelled with a spade, in small 
spots, at every six feet square ; in each of 
which spots ten or twelve seeds are to be 
