The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 53

COMMON NETTLE.

Large Stinging Nettle. Urtica dioica.

The Common Nettle is a hardy, herbaceous perennial, growing naturally and abundantly by waysides and in waste places, "but is seldom seen where the hand of man has not been at work; and may, therefore, be considered a sort of domestic plant." It has an erect, branching, four-sided stem, from three to five feet in height; the leaves are opposite, heart-shaped at the base, toothed on the borders, and thickly set with small, stinging, hair-like bristles; the flowers are produced in July and August, and are small, green, and without beauty; the seeds are very small, and are produced in great abundance,--a single plant sometimes yielding nearly a hundred thousand.

_Propagation and Culture._--The Nettle will thrive in almost any soil or situation. Though it may be propagated from seeds, it is generally increased by a division of the roots, which may be made in spring or autumn. These should be set in rows two feet apart, and a foot apart in the rows.

_Use._--"Early in April, the tops will be found to have pushed three or four inches, furnished with tender leaves. In Scotland, Poland, and Germany, these are gathered, as a pot-herb for soups or for dishes, like Spinach; and their peculiar flavor is by many much esteemed. No plant is better adapted for forcing; and, in winter or spring, it may be made to form an excellent subst.i.tute for Cabbage, Coleworts, or Spinach. Collect the creeping roots, and plant them either on a hot-bed or in pots to be placed in the forcing-house, and they will soon send up an abundance of tender tops: these, if desired, may be blanched by covering with other pots. If planted close to a flue in the vinery, they will produce excellent nettle-kale or nettle-spinach in January and February."

Lawson states that "the common Nettle has long been known as affording a large proportion of fibre, which has not only been made into ropes and cordage, but also into sewing-thread, and beautiful, white, linen-like cloth of very superior quality. It does not, however, appear that its cultivation for this purpose has ever been fairly attempted. The fibre is easily separated from other parts of the stalk, without their undergoing the processes of watering and bleaching; although, by such, the labor necessary for that purpose is considerably lessened. Like those of many other common plants, the superior merits of this generally accounted troublesome weed have hitherto been much overlooked."

NEW-ZEALAND SPINACH. _Loud._

Tetragonia expansa.

This plant, botanically considered, is quite distinct from the common garden Spinach; varying essentially in its foliage, flowers, seeds, and general habit.

It is a hardy annual. The leaves are of a fine green color, large and broad, and remarkably thick and fleshy; the branches are numerous, round, succulent, pale-green, thick and strong,--the stalks recline upon the ground for a large proportion of their length, but are erect at the extremities; the flowers are produced in the axils of the leaves, are small, green, and, except that they show their yellow anthers when they expand, are quite inconspicuous; the fruit is of a dingy-brown color, three-eighths of an inch deep, three-eighths of an inch in diameter at the top or broadest part, hard and wood-like in texture, rude in form, but somewhat urn-shaped, with four or five horn-like points at the top.

Three hundred and twenty-five of these fruits are contained in an ounce; and they are generally sold and recognized as the seeds. They are, however, really the fruit; six or eight of the true seeds being contained in each. They retain their germinative powers five years.

_Propagation and Culture._--It is always raised from seed, which may be sown in the open ground from April to July. Select a rich, moist soil, pulverize it well, and rake the surface smooth. Make the drills three feet apart, and an inch and a half or two inches deep; and sow the seed thinly, or so as to secure a plant for each foot of row. In five or six weeks from the planting, the branches will have grown sufficiently to allow the gathering of the leaves for use. If the season should be very dry, the plants will require watering. They grow vigorously, and, in good soil, will extend, before the end of the season, three feet in each direction.

_Gathering._--"The young leaves must be pinched or cut from the branches; taking care not to injure the ends, or leading shoots. These shoots, with the smaller ones that will spring out of the stalks at the points where the leaves have been gathered, will produce a supply until a late period in the season; for the plants are sufficiently hardy to withstand the effects of light frosts without essential injury.

"Its superiority over the Common Spinach consists in the fact, that it grows luxuriantly, and produces leaves of the greatest succulency, in the hottest weather."

Anderson, one of its first cultivators, had but nine plants, which furnished a gathering for the table every other day from the middle of June. A bed of a dozen healthy plants will afford a daily supply for the table of a large family.

_Seed._--To raise seed, leave two or three plants in the poorest soil of the garden, without cutting the leaves. The seeds will ripen successively, and should be gathered as they mature.

_Use._--It is cooked and served in the same manner as Common Spinach.

There are no described varieties.

ORACH.

Arrach. French Spinach. Mountain Spinach. Atriplex hortensis.

Orach is a hardy, annual plant, with an erect, branching stem, varying in height from two to four feet, according to the variety. The leaves are variously shaped, tut somewhat oblong, comparatively thin in texture, and slightly acid to the taste; the flowers are small and obscure, greenish or reddish, corresponding in a degree with the color of the foliage of the plant; the seeds are small, black, and surrounded with a thin, pale-yellow membrane,--they retain their vitality three years.

_Soil and Culture._--It is raised from seed sown annually. As its excellence depends on the size and succulent character of the leaves, Orach is always best when grown in a rich, deep, and moist soil. The first sowing may be made as soon in spring as the ground is in proper condition; afterwards, for a succession, sowings may be made, at intervals of two weeks, until June.

When the ground has been thoroughly dug over, and the surface made fine and smooth, sow the seed in drills eighteen inches or two feet apart, and cover three-fourths of an inch deep. When the young plants are two or three inches high, thin them to ten or twelve inches apart, and cultivate in the usual manner. Orach is sometimes transplanted, but generally succeeds best when sown where the plants are to remain. In dry, arid soil, it is comparatively worthless.

_To raise Seed._--Leave a few of the best plants without cutting, and they will afford a plentiful supply of seeds in September.

_Use._--Orach is rarely found in the vegetable gardens of this country.

The leaves have a pleasant, slightly acid taste, and, with the tender stalks, are used boiled in the same manner as Spinach or Sorrel, and are often mixed with the latter to reduce the acidity. "The stalks are good only while the plants are young; but the larger leaves may be picked off in succession throughout the season, leaving the stalks and smaller leaves untouched, by which the latter will increase in size. The Orach thus procured is very tender, and much esteemed."

A few plants will afford an abundant supply.

_Varieties._--

GREEN ORACH. _Trans._

Dark-green Orach. Deep-green Orach. _Mill._

The leaves of this variety are of a dark, gra.s.s-green color, broad, much wrinkled, slightly toothed, and bluntly pointed; the stalk of the plant and the leaf-stems are strong and st.u.r.dy, and of the same color as the leaves. It is the lowest growing of all the varieties.

LURID ORACH. _Trans._

Pale-red Orach.

Leaves pale-purple, tinged with dark-green,--the under surface light-purple, with green veins, slightly wrinkled, terminating rather pointedly, and toothed on the borders only toward the base, which forms two acute angles; the stalk of the plant and the stems of the leaves are bright-red, slightly streaked with white between the furrows,--height three feet and upwards.

PURPLE ORACH. _Trans._

Dark-purple Orach.

Plant from three to four feet in height; leaves dull, dark-purple, more wrinkled and more deeply toothed than those of any other variety. They terminate somewhat obtusely, and form two acute angles at the base. The stalk of the plant and the stems of the leaves are deep-red, and slightly furrowed. The leaves change to green when boiled.

RED ORACH. _Trans._

Dark-red Orach. Bon Jardinier.

Leaves oblong-heart-shaped, somewhat wrinkled, and slightly toothed on the margin: the upper surface is very dark, inclining to a dingy purple; the under surface is of a much brighter color. The stems are deep-red and slightly furrowed; height three feet and upwards.

This is an earlier but a less vigorous sort than the White. The leaves of this variety, as also those of most of the colored sorts, change to green in boiling.

RED-STALKED GREEN ORACH. _Trans._

Leaves dark-green, tinged with dull-brown, much wrinkled, toothed, somewhat curled, terminating rather obtusely, and forming two acute angles at the base; the stalk and the stems of the leaves are deep-red, and slightly furrowed; the veins are very prominent. It is of tall growth.

RED-STALKED WHITE ORACH. _Trans._

Purple-bordered Green Orach. _Miller._

Leaves somewhat heart-shaped, of a yellowish-green, tinged with brown.