PATIENCE 
Patience {Rumex patientid) is by no means a popular 
plant in this country, but one that will grow when 
Spinach fails. It will grow in almost any soil, but pre- 
fers one that is moist. A hardy perennial and a native 
of Italy, in that country 
it is still a favourite on 
account of its free growth 
and the enormous quan- 
tities of leafage it gives. 
When allowed to run wild 
or to ripen seed, there is a 
great difficulty in getting 
rid of this plant ; indeed 
I would not advise its cul- 
ture unless it is used in a 
young state and the plants 
thrown away when they 
to form seed ; cut 
over frequently, the plants 
throw out a large number 
of young leaves. It is 
easily raised from seed sown in the spring, and there 
should be ample space — 2 feet between the rows and 12 
inches between the plants. There should be no delay 
in cutting down the seed stems, as when these form the 
plant will not furnish leaves freely, the stems being 
robust and growing to several feet in height. The edible 
portion is the young leaves, and these are used like 
Spinach. Older writers advise a fourth part of Sorrel to 
77 
HERB patience, OR PATIENCE DOCK 
{Onc-thh'tieth nahiral size) 
