404 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S COMPANION.— September 2,18, r iG. 
THE WHITE-STEMMED AMARANTH. 
Seeds of this were presented by Captain Hall, Berwick- 
upon-Tweed, with a communication, from which the follow¬ 
ing are extracts:— 
“ The excellence of this vegetable consists in its suc- 
culency and tenderness, or freedom from anything of a 
stringy, fibrous character. These qualities depend on being 
brought forward early 7 by rapid growth, so as to be in a state 
fit for use in a month or so ; and this is effected by means 
of a rich and rather light soil, an ample supply of moisture, 
a moist, still atmosphere, and high temperature—the latter 
may be varied occasionally as high as 00° in the day-time, 
and regulated at from 70° to 75° at night. With respect to 
light, the direct rays of the sun are not essential; on the 
contrary, too much or constant sunshine is prejudicial; a 
■ condition in which the direct rays are frequently intercepted 
by thin light clouds is more favourable to the rapid growth 
of this vegetable than unbroken sunshine. 
“ The preceding remarks are based on the conditions 
which I have observed to be most favourable to the rapid 
Amaranthus alb us.—The White-stemmed Amaranth. 
development of this plant in India, where the best time for 
raising it in perfection is the early part of the monsoon or 
rainy season, just after the first fall of rain in June, when 
the ground has been well saturated with moisture; and the 
parching state of the air, as it exists in the hot season, has 
given place to excess of moisture. At this period the atmo¬ 
sphere is usually calm, or only agitated with light breezes, 
and the sun generally obscured by a thin hazy cloudiness, 
sufficient to intercept or break the direct rays, but trans¬ 
mitting considerable heat to the earth. This state of things 
often continues for six or eight weeks, only varied by occa¬ 
sional rainy intervals, the temperature in the shade ranging 
from 72° to 85° day and night. During the period just de¬ 
scribed, I have bad plants of this Amaranth which attained 
full growth for use within a month from the sowing of the 
seeds, being at that time near one foot and a half high, and 
as thick in the stem as the middle or second finger. As 
the season advances—in August—it becomes less favourable 
to the growth of this vegetable ; a decided change takes place 
in the electrical condition of the atmosphere, 
the sun shines out more frequently and more 
brightly, the air becomes drier, and there is a 
manifest tendency in all succulent vegetables 
to acquire hardness and stringiness of fibre, 
and to run into flower. 
“ I have entered into this minute detail of 
the natural season in India for the purpose of 
indicating the distinct conditions of climate 
necessary, on the one hand, for producing this 
vegetable for use ; and, on the other hand, for 
perfecting its growth with a view to obtain 
seeds. A common Melon-bed and frame, 
made sufficiently high inside for the plants 
attaining from one foot to one foot and a half 
in height, would be a suitable place for grow¬ 
ing them in. The earth, rich and light, 
should be about three quarters of a foot in 
depth, and the upper part of the fermenting 
materials in an advanced state of decom¬ 
position, to afford nourishment to the roots 
penetrating through the earth, which would 
greatly add to the luxuriance of their growth. 
The plants might be pricked out to about six 
inches distance from each other. As much 
sunshine is not wanted, it might he service¬ 
able, in an unbroken succession of bright 
weather, to throw a thin light cloth over the 
glass during part of the day, to soften the 
intensity of the sun's light. The circum¬ 
stance of a deficiency of sunshine or clear 
weather being rather advantageous' than pre¬ 
judicial, is favourable for the forcing of this 
vegetable in the early part of the year, when 
the weather is generally so uncertain and 
gloomy ; and as it may be brought forward in 
the short space of a month or little more, a 
constant succession may be readily kept up 
by tbe use of only two frames. Of seed, I 
consider an ample supply might he obtained 
from one or two plants raised in April or May, 
which being allowed to perfect their growth 
and gradually inured to a drier atmosphere, 
would ripen their seeds iu September or 
October. 
“ This plant is used as a vegetable for the 
table in two ways : 1st, the plants are pulled 
up and cut off Just above the roots ; the Reaves 
are plucked off and dressed like Spinach and 
other spinaceous plants, in which respect they 
are not inferior to any kind I am acquainted 
with. 2nd, the steins and side - branches 
(being the white parts of the plant) are 
separated from each other, cut into proper 
lengths, boiled, and placed on toast like 
Asparagus, or simply in a dish, and eaten 
with meat, either with butter sauce or meat 
gravy. They form a very elegant dish, and 
then- inviting appearance is sustained by their 
