SORREL 
There are several kinds of Sorrel, and they are 
mostly perennials, the one that is probably best known 
being the Common Garden Sorrel that is so plentiful in 
fields. There are others somewhat similar. The Belleville 
is a cultivated French variety, and an excellent garden 
Sorrel. This is superior to our common form, and there is 
another of French origin having blistered leaves. This 
latter is grown largely on the continent, as it is the last 
to run to seed ; the common British form is bad in this 
respect. Tbe Roman or Round-leaved Sorrel {Rumex 
scutatus) is a hardy perennial much grown abroad ; this 
has a trailing stem, and is from 12 to i8 inches in height, 
having heart-shaped leaves, glaucous and smooth, which 
are more acid than those of the other species, and this 
by many persons is much liked, as for flavouring or in a 
cooked state as a green vegetable it makes a more 
palatable dish. There is also the Mountain Sorrel of 
the French {R. montanus) and the Oseille Vierge, a 
smaller form, and these do not run so quickly to seed as 
our varieties. The leaves of the last named have a pale 
green colour and are less acid, but the Oseille Vierge 
verte liste is the reverse in this respect, and the Green 
Mountain variety has larger leafage of a dark green 
colour, which are produced earlier in the spring and is 
the last to run to seed, so that it is a desirable garden 
variety. The Messrs Vilmorin of Paris give the 
larger Belleville as the best variety, and there is no 
doubt but that it is a good garden variety, though there 
are others on the continent under diverse names that are 
well worth attention. At one time I gave this vegetable 
G 97 
