Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/66

 Sugar Corn, when in a dry state, are small and shriveled, and are consequently easily distinguished.

.—The ground must be in good condition; if not make it so, or put a shovelful of decayed manure or rich compost into each hill. Plant in hills, three feet apart, five or six grains in each; when up, allow three only to stand for a crop; hoe deep and frequently, drawing some earth to the stalks when about a foot high. If they incline to sucker, or make side shoots, break them off. Plant every two weeks till August. This crop can be used to fill up all vacancies in the ground, and to follow other crops as they come off in June and July.

botanic name is derived from a Latin word signifying a warlike trophy. This idea might have originated with botanists from its shield-like leaves and its brilliant, golden, helmet-shaped flowers, pierced and stained with blood. It is a native of Peru and Chili, where there are many curious and fanciful varieties, though none so beautiful as the Common Nasturtium that has been cultivated for nearly three hundred years. Its gay colors enliven the gardens of the rich and the poor. The flowers and leaves have a sharp and warm taste, like Garden or Curled Cress; and are frequently used in salads. The seeds, when gathered young and green, on a dry day, and pickled in vinegar, form an excellent substitute for Capers, and indeed are preferable.

.—It is properly treated as an annual plant, and sown for the benefit of its seed, flowers and foliage, as well as for ornament. Sow the seed thinly, in rows or patches, an inch deep, about the end of March or first of April. It is not