18 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
'and ; but in their primitive state they are small, 
worthless weeds, almost destitute ofroots. They 
save been cultivated in gardens and fields for 250 
rears past. Cultivation has done as much for 
his vegetable as for any other. In ihe catalogue 
jefore referred to, we find fifteen kinds of seed 
offered for sale. The finer kinds of turnip, if 
properly cooked and dressed, make a palatable 
dish for the table ; though for persons of weak 
stomachs they are hard of digestion. A prepara¬ 
tion of turnip is sometimes used for coughs, 
hoarseness and other asthmatic disorders. Expe¬ 
rience, as well as analysis, shows that the turnip 
is nutritious, nearly as much so as the potato; 
and in late years, when that crop was cut off in 
frelar.d, great use was made of this valuable root. 
The importance of the turnip for feeding stock is 
too well known to be dwelt upon here. 
The Carrot hails from Spain, and has long been 
cultivated. Fessenden says it has been found 
growing wild in England ; and Buist adds that 
“ it is supposed to have been introduced into 
Europe from the Island of Crete.” The Spanish 
ladies anciently used to deck their hair with its 
beautiful green leaves, before its usefulness for 
(bod had become known. It was-once supposed 
that the carrot was peculiarly beneficial in pulmo¬ 
nary affections. As a food for horses and cattle, 
it is unsurpassed in excellence. 
Of the Potato the birth-place does not seem to 
be as certainly known now, as it was supposed to 
be a few years ago. It is commonly ascribed, 
however, to Peru and Chili. One writer says it 
was first carried to Spain from the mountains near 
Quito. It found its way into England by another 
route, having been brought from South America 
to Virginia, in 1584, and thence carried over to 
England by Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1586. On its 
first introduction, it encountered many prejudices, 
some persons utterly refusing to taste it, declar¬ 
ing it was fit only for swine. But it soon made 
its way to popularity, and is now the most com¬ 
mon and the most useful vegetable in the 
world. A writer happily observes. “ With the 
lower classes of people, it is one of the greatest 
blessings the soil produces, forming flour without 
a mill, and bread without an oven ; and at all 
seasons of the year, an agreeable, wholesome 
dish, without the use of expensive condiments.” 
The Artichoke originated everywhere ; at least, 
it has been found wild in Europe and Asia, and in 
both North and South America. It is a maritime 
plant, grows best in a moist soil, and likes an 
occasional dressing of salt. 
The Radish is a Chinaman, and was first intro¬ 
duced into England in 1584. It will not fatten 
anybody, but it makes a fine relish with other 
food, and may have a corner in every garden, 
where liked. 
Finally, let not the memorable Onion fail of an 
honorable notice. It was known to the Egyptians 
some 2000 years before the Christian era, and was 
worshipped by the ancient Egyptians as a god. 
It used to be called Unio, because the bulb never 
divided ; hence the English name onion. Disa¬ 
greeable as its smell is, it has been long in use 
by every nation on earth, as a seasoning for 
meats and soups. It gives an excellent relish 
to other articles of food, and possesses nutriment, 
and medicinal qualities of considerable value. 
Scientific analysis declares that it is composed 
of “ water, sulphur, phosphoric and acetic acids, 
some vegeto-animal matter, and a little manna.” 
We hope that this piece of information will im¬ 
prove its odor for our learned readers ; but for 
common folks, we will add that a few leaves of 
parsley eaten after partaking of onions, will re¬ 
move the scent and help their digestion. 
About Squashes. 
There arc not so many varieties of the squash 
as is commonly supposed. The Summer squash¬ 
es include the round (or scolloped) and crooked- 
neck sorts. These must be eaten before ripen¬ 
ing : after the rind has become so hard that the 
finger nail can not easily pierce it, the squash is 
not suitable for the kitchen. Another class em¬ 
braces the Valparaiso, the Acorn, Vegetable 
Marrow and Canada Crook-necked squashes. 
These are not to be eaten until fully ripe, which 
occurs in the Autumn. A variety, called the 
Hubbard Squash, has lately been disseminated in 
some quarters, and said to be equal to the Marrow, 
and a better keeper in Winter. We hope it will 
prove to be so. All these late squashes should 
be kept cool and dry, and not much exposed to the 
light: so managed, they can he preserved nearly 
all Winter. 
These several sorts have been hybridized, by 
being raised in the vicinity of each other and of 
pumpkins and melons, but no improvement has 
been made on the originals. For pies, or as a 
vegetable for the dinner-table, nothing is better 
than a good Winter squash ; and from among the 
whole lot, give us but the pure Boston Vegetable 
Marrow, and we will be content. 
Notes on the Flower and Ornamental 
Seeds in Our Distribution. 
A few running notes on these seeds may be 
useful to those not already acquainted with the 
several varieties. Many of them have been illus¬ 
trated, and full descriptions and modes of culture 
given, in the course of the last volume. Further 
directions and engravings will appear from time 
to time. The date of planting, etc., is named from 
month to month in the calendar of operations. 
Carefully preserve the following notes for future 
reference. 
No. 23— Mignonetve ( Reseda odorata). A fra¬ 
grant annual, with moderate claims to beauty of 
flower, but a favorite for its perfume. Of easy 
culture ; grows on almost any soil ; blooms pro¬ 
fusely until killed by frost; sown May 1st, to 
June 15th. 
No. 25— Nasturtiums (Tropceolum majus). A 
semi-creeping annual, often trained on a trellis 
or allowed to run over rocks or walls. Bears a 
profusion of flowers, the mixed seed we distrib¬ 
ute giving yellow and crimson colors ; is doubly 
valuable, as it yields beautiful flowers, and its 
seed capsules picked green make an excellent 
spicy pickle. 
No. 27— Cockscomb ( celosia crislala). A pretty 
well known plant, named from its corymb or head 
which in some varieties resembles a cock’s comb. 
This is made up of an infinite number of minute 
scarlet flowers. We have seed of a variety which 
produces a cone-shaped head, of a splendid deep 
crimson color. (The seed cost us $24 per lb.) It 
is often grown in pots, but flourishes well in the 
open ground ; continues long in bloom ; sown in 
Spring ; grows 2 to 3J feet high. 
No. 28 —Dwarf Rocket Larkspur ( Delphinium 
ajacis). A pretty annual, growing 1 to 2 feet high. 
The double varieties are quite showy. Color, 
white, lilac, pink, purple, and intermediate shades. 
May be sown in Spring or Autumn. 
No. 29— Double Balsams (Impatiens balsamina). 
Called also “Garden Ladies’Slipper,” in dis¬ 
tinction from the wild Ladies’ Slipper. They are 
sometimes called “ Touch-me-not,” as the seed 
capsules, or pods suddenly burst when touched. 
We send out several varieties of seeds mixed, to 
give a diversity of color in the flowers, which 
range from pure white, lilac, pink, rose, and a 
blending of these colors. The double flowers are 
very pretty, but it is difficult to preserve them 
double, as they are prone to return to their nat¬ 
ural single state. The balsams are annuals ; grow 
H to 2 feet high ; branching when not too thickly 
planted ; easily grown on every variety of soil; 
usually sow themselves, but seed of double flow¬ 
ers should be cultivated for propagation. 
No. 30 —Tassel Flower ( Cacalia coccinca). 
This is most appropriately named, as the flower is 
a perfect “ tassel” with scarlet fringe. We have 
admired it as much as any flower grown in our 
garden. It has been called “ Venus’ Paint Brush.” 
Sow in the Spring; it usually blooms from July 
until killed by frost; bight, 1 to H feet. 
No. 31 —Chinese Pink ( Dianthus Chinensis). 
Dianthus signifies “ Flower of God,” and embraces 
the Sweet William, Carnation and garden or 
common Pink. They are mostly perennial, or bi¬ 
ennial like the Chinese variety. This is a pretty 
flower, though without the fragrance of several of 
the species. Though biennial it blooms some¬ 
what the first year. The flowers range from the 
richly colored crimson, with edgings of pink, lilac, 
and other shades, to pure white with a center 
of dark red, nearly approaching a black color ; 
even in the largest collections it is almost impos¬ 
sible to find two flowers alike. They continue to 
bloom for several months in succession. Sown 
in Spring. 
No. 32— Splendid Portolaca, Mixed ( Portu - 
laca splendens, lulca, alba, elegans , <?-c ). A bed ot 
either of the above, or of the whole combined 
makes a fine show. We send out mixed seeds. 
The portulaca is a trailing plant of only a few 
inches in flight. On rich soil a single plant will 
cover a circle of one foot in diameter. They are 
usually grown too thickly. Colors white, red, 
yellow, scarlet and crimson, but not blended in 
the same flower. They are very hardy annuals 
blooming the entire season and leaving ample 
seed in the ground for a crop the next season. 
Sow in Spring, or even in Autumn. 
No. 33— Cypress Vine (Ipomcaquamoclit). This 
is the finest hardy annual climber of the flower 
garden. There are two colors, white and scarlet, 
the latter being much the prettier. Sow when the 
ground is warm and dry, previously soaking the 
seed for twenty-four hours, or it will vegetate 
shyly. See description and illustration of Cypress 
Vine trellis on page 339, Vol. XVII, November 
last. 
Nos. 34 and 35— Chinese and German Asters 
(Aster Chinensis ), are so near alike that one dis- 
cription will suffice for both. Skillful German 
florists have simply improved the Chinese vari¬ 
eties. Some of them are very double or fully 
quilled, and rank among the prettiest flowers ol 
the garden. Sown in early Spring, they come 
into bloom in August and September, and con¬ 
tinue until severe frost. They are among the 
latest flowers of the garden. Color white, red, 
yellow, and intervening shades. 
No. 37— Zinnia elegans, with its varieties coc- 
cinea (scarlet), alba (white), and panciflora (jellow), 
are showy annuals of two to three feet in hight. 
Some of the colors are very brilliant and they con¬ 
tinue a long time in flower. 
No. 3S— Sweet William ( Dianthus barbalus), 
belongs to the same family as Chinese Pink. It 
is one of the choicest perennials blooming the 
second year from seed, and so on through a long 
