Scurvy-grass.
432. Scurvy-grass belongs to the same Linnean genus as the hot se-radish, § 396, although in general habit the plants have no resemblance. It is the Cochlearia officmalis, L. an annual or at most a biennial plant, indigenous to most of our sea-shores, and, like the plant called thrift or sea pink, growing also on many of our mountains, particularly in Scotland. It is figured in English Botany," t. 551. A thick-leaved variety, called Dutch Scurvy-grass, is some times antivated in gardens for medicinal purposes. The smaller leaves are occasionally eaten between slices of bread and butter. It is sown in July, or as soon as ripe seeds can be gathered ; it requires little attention, needing only to be thinned and kept clear of weeds. If the seeds be not wanted, the flower stems may be cut over, and the plants will thus continue for two or more years. Common scurvy-grass thrives uncommonly well on the top of an old wall, where it will sow itself, and remain many years.
Elecampane.
433. Elecampane (hula Ilelenium, L. ; Syngenesia Poly gamia superilua ; Corymbiferx, Juss.) is a native of differ ent parts of the south and west of England, and figured by Sowerby in " English Botany," t. 1546. It is a perennial plant, with a thick fusiform aromatic root ; it rises from three to five feet high, being one of our largest herbaceous plants ; the lower leaves are a foot long. and perhaps four inches broad in the middle ; the yellow (lowers appear in large heads in July and August. In former days the root had many virtues ascribed to it ; the plant was therefore cultivated in village-gardens throughout Europe : now, it is much less in repute, but it still keeps its place in the physic-herb corner. As a few plants only are wanted, they are generally procured by offsets in the autumn. The root is fit for use the second year : and roots of this age, it may be noticed, are better than those of old plants.
Anise.
434. Anise (Pimpinella ?nisum, L. ; Pentandria Digynia; nat. ord. Umbelliferre) is an annual plant, a native of Egypt, but cultivated in Malta and Spain, for the seeds, which are medicinal, and a good deal in demand. In this country the plant requires a warm border. The seed is sown in April, where the plants are to remain ; and they are thinned as they come up. It is only in very favourable seasons that the
seeds are perfected. Mr Lysons mentions it as one of the plants raised by the physic gardeners near London, proba bly by mistake : for it is certainly too tender to be cultivat ed in this country for profit.
Blessed Thistle.
435. Blessed Thistle (Centaurea benedicta, L. ; Carduns benedictus of the old writers ; Syngenesia frus tranea ; Cinarocephalce, Juss.) is an annual plant, growing naturally in the Levant. It was formerly cultivated with care in our gardens for its supposed extraordinary virtues. An infusion of it is still sometimes used ; and a few plants arc therefore raised from the seed, which is generally sown in autumn.
It seems unnecessary to swell the list of these simples, or medicinal plants; but it may be proper slightly to men tion a few esculents or herbs, principally native, the culti vation of which is either seldom attended to in this country, or has fallen into disuse.
436. Garden Rocket (Brassica Eruca, L.) is an annual plant, a native of Switzerland, which was in former times used as a salad herb, but is now seldom to be met with, unless in botanic gardens. When in flower it has a strong peculiar smell, which some would not hesitate to call fetid ; but in a young state the flavour is just per ceptible, and the leaves then form a very tolerable salad ingredient. It is still cultivated in some parts of the con tinent.
437. Wild-rocket, or II edge-mustard, (Sisymbrium offi cinale, Hot': kew. ; Erysimum officinale, L ; English Bo tany, t. 725.) has been sometimes sown and used as a spring pot-herb. When young, it has a warm and not disagree able taste.
438. Winter-Cress (Barbarcavulgaris,Hort. Kew. ; Ery • siniztm Barbarea, L. ; English Botany, t. 44.3.) is a well known Ix -onial plant, which has long been occasionally used as an early spring salad. Some still consider the American cress of gardeners as merely a variety of this : but after cultivating both for several years, we have found those to he right who regard them as distinct. (See § 382 ) It may be remarked, that a double flowered variety of Bar barea vulgaris is admitted to the flowcr-burder, under the name of Yellow rocket.