The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 72

This plant is generally cultivated for its seeds, like Mustard. It is, however, sometimes grown for salad; the seeds being sown in April, and, for a succession, once in three or four weeks till August or September.

Sow thickly, in drills ten or twelve inches apart, and cover half an inch deep. The soil should be rich and moist, in order to induce a rapid growth, and thus to give a tender, succulent character to the young leaves; these being the parts eaten. They are served like Lettuce, or boiled and treated as Coleworts or Spinach. For mixing with Cress or Lettuce, the plants are cut to the ground before the development of the second leaves.

The species are as follow:--

ANNUAL ROUGH-LEAVED SUMMER RAPE. _Law._

Turnip Rape. Bra.s.sica rapa.

Root fusiform, small, hard, and woody; radical leaves lyrate, vivid green, and without any appearance of the glaucous bloom for which the biennial sorts are so distinguished; the stem-leaves are slightly glaucous, smooth, or nearly so,--the lower ones cut on the borders, the upper entire; the seeds are small, and similar to those of the common field turnip, of which it seems to be either a variety, or the source from which the latter has been derived.

COMMON OR WINTER RAPE. _Law._

Cole-seed. Bra.s.sica napus.

Biennial; root long, tapering, hard, and woody, like that of the species before described. The leaves are smooth, thick, and fleshy, and of much the same form as those of the Annual Rough-leaved Summer Rape; this species, however, being readily distinguished, when young, by its uniformly smooth leaves. The seeds, also, are larger than those of the last-named species; but this is not to be relied upon as a distinguis.h.i.+ng characteristic, as the size of the seeds, in this as in most other plants, is liable to be materially altered by the soil as well as by the previous culture of the seed-stock.

The seeds are sown in summer, and the crop ripens the following year. It is not adapted to the climate of the Northern States.

In England, the foregoing species are extensively cultivated both for forage and for seed; the latter being used to a limited extent for feeding birds, but chiefly for the production of rape-seed oil.

GERMAN RAPE. _Law._

Annual or Early Rape. Smooth-leaved Summer Rape. Bra.s.sica praec.o.x.

The German Rape somewhat resembles the Common or Winter. It differs in being of annual duration; in its more deeply divided leaves, more erect pods, and smaller seeds.

It would unquestionably succeed well in almost any part of the Northern or Middle States, and might prove as remunerative a crop as corn or wheat. The seeds should be sown in May; and the plants should be treated and the crop harvested, in all respects, as Mustard. It is sometimes sown broadcast, but generally in drills. When sown broadcast, eight or ten pounds of seed will be required for an acre; if in drills, three or four pounds will be sufficient. The yield varies from twenty to forty bushels per acre.

SUMMER RAPE. _Law._

Colza. Wild Navew. Bra.s.sica campestris.

A biennial plant, with a tapering, hard, and fibrous root. The radical leaves are lyrate and roughish when young; those of the stem clasping, or heart-shaped, at base, and of an oblong form,--all somewhat fleshy, of a dark-green color, with a glaucous bloom. The seeds are larger than those of the Ruta-baga, or Swedish Turnip, but in other respects not distinguishable.

This species is sometimes termed _Bra.s.sica campestris olifer_, or Oil-rape, from its being considered the best sort of rape for cultivating for oil; and to distinguish it from the _Campestris Ruta-baga_, or Swedish Turnip, which is only a variety of this species.

It is not sufficiently hardy for cultivation in the Northern States.

ROCKET. _Vil._

Garden Rocket. Roquette, of the French. Bra.s.sica eruca.

A hardy, annual plant, from the south of Europe. Stem about two feet high; leaves long, lobed or lyrate, smooth and glossy, succulent and tender; flowers pale citron-yellow, with blackish-purple veins, very fragrant, having the odor of orange-blossoms; the seeds are small, roundish, brown, or reddish-brown, and retain their vitality two years,--fifteen thousand are contained in an ounce.

_Sowing and Cultivation._--The seed is sown thinly, in shallow drills a foot asunder. The first sowing may be made as early in spring as the frost will permit; afterwards, for a succession, a few seeds may be sown at intervals of three or four weeks. In poor soil and dry seasons, the leaves are liable to be tough and acrid: the seeds should, therefore, be sown in rich loam, and the plants thoroughly watered in dry weather; as, the more rapid and vigorous the growth, the more succulent and mild-flavored will be the foliage.

_Use._--The leaves, while young and tender, are eaten as salad.

SAMPHIRE. _Thomp._ _Mill._

Sea-fennel. Parsley-pert. St. Peter's Herb. Crithmum maritimum.

This is a half-hardy, perennial plant, common to rocky localities on the seacoast of Great Britain. Stalk from a foot to two feet in height, tender and succulent; leaves half an inch long, somewhat linear, glaucous-green, fleshy; flowers in terminal umbels,--small, white, or yellowish-white; the seeds are oblong, yellowish, and, though somewhat larger, resemble those of Fennel,--they retain their germinative power but one year.

The plant blossoms in July and August, and the seeds ripen in September and October.

_Cultivation._--"It is rather difficult to cultivate in gardens; and the produce is never so good as that obtained from the places where it naturally grows. It may be propagated either by dividing the plant, or by sowing the seed in April or in autumn, soon after it is ripe. The latter period is preferable; for, if kept till spring, the seed does not germinate so well.

"It succeeds best in a light, sandy, or gravelly soil, kept constantly moist, and sprinkled occasionally with a little sea-salt or barilla, or watered with a solution of these substances, in order to supply the plant with soda, which is a necessary element of its food. It will grow still better if planted or sown among stones at the foot of walls, with a south or east aspect. This, and an occasional watering, with a solution of sea-salt, will give conditions nearly the same as those under which the plant naturally grows. As it is rather delicate, and liable to be injured by frost, it should be protected by dry litter or leaves during the winter. Towards the end of summer, the leaves may be cut for use."--_Thomp._

_Use._--The leaves have a warm, pleasant, aromatic flavor; and, when pickled in vinegar, are used in salads and as a seasoning.

GOLDEN SAMPHIRE. _Thomp._

Inula crithmifolia.

A hardy perennial, growing, like the preceding, naturally, on the marshes and seacoast of Great Britain. The stalk is a foot and a half in height, erect, with cl.u.s.ters of small, fleshy leaves; flowers yellow, in small, umbel-like cl.u.s.ters.

_Propagation and Cultivation._--It may be propagated by seeds, or by a division of the roots. It thrives best in a shady situation, and requires frequent watering. If salt be occasionally dissolved in the water, it will promote the growth of the plants, and render the branches and foliage more succulent and tender.

_Use._--The fleshy leaves and the young branches are pickled in vinegar, and added to salads as a relish. The plant, however, has none of the pleasant aromatic flavor of the true Samphire, though often sold under the name, and used as a subst.i.tute.

SCURVY-GRa.s.s.

Cochlearia officinalis.

This is a hardy, annual, maritime plant, common to the seacoast of France and Great Britain. The root-leaves spread regularly from a common centre, are heart-shaped, fleshy, smooth, and glossy,--those of the stem sessile, oblong, and toothed on the margin; the stalks are numerous, and from six inches to a foot in height; the flowers are small, white, and produced in compact groups, or cl.u.s.ters; the seeds are small, oval, a little angular, and retain their vitality three years.

_Soil, Sowing, and Cultivation._--It succeeds best in moist, sandy soil; and flourishes in shady situations. Sow the seeds in August, soon after they ripen, in shallow drills eight or ten inches apart; and, while the plants are young, thin them to five or six inches apart in the rows. The plants taken up in thinning may be transplanted, and new beds formed if occasion require. The growing crop should be kept free from weeds, and liberally watered in dry weather. In the following spring, the leaves will be fit for the table. Those plants not cut for use will flower in June, and the seeds will ripen in July. The seeds seldom vegetate well if sown late in spring, or during warm, dry weather.

_Use._--The radical leaves are used as a salad, and are sometimes mixed with Cress. When bruised, they emit an unpleasant odor; and have an acrid, bitter taste when eaten. The plant is more generally used for medicinal purposes than as an esculent.

SNAILS.

Snail Trefoil. Medicago orbicularis.