Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/152



species of the Sorrel is found in every part of the world. Wherever seen, it indicates a poor, sour soil. It is peculiarly a French dish, and considered an effectual remedy against scurvy. Its general use is in salads, and occasionally boiled as a sauce, and may be cooked similarly to Spinach. It is increased by seeds or division of the roots. Plant in a light, rich, moist soil, in rows ten inches apart; they will furnish a plentiful supply of leaves the same season. They afterwards only require to be kept clean, and to have the seed-stems cut down as well as the overgrown leaves in Autumn.

A of banks, hedges, and borders of fields, in most parts of the middle of Europe. It is perennial, and easily propagated by seed, and also by parting the roots in Spring and planting them in any light soil or situation. Tansy has a strong, aromatic smell, and a bitter taste. It is tonic and stomachic, and has the usual qualities attributed to bitters of the warm or aromatic kind. It was formerly much used in puddings, but has of late been neglected, and is now seldom used, either as a culinary vegetable or medicinal herb.