The Book of Vegetables and Garden Herbs; A Practical Handbook and Planting Table for the Vegetable Gardener (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 Excerpt: ...(Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) is sometimes called Dew-plant, on account of the glistening spots on its foliage. The plant is perennial, but tender, and is best used as an annual. It thrives in heat and stands drought well. It is used like spinach but is chiefly regarded as a curiosity. New Zealand Iceplant is New Zealand Spinach, which see under S. Soil.--Light and quick. Distances.--Rows one foot apart; thin the plants to six inches or more in the row. Depth.--Shallow. Sow under glass in April, and set out in late May. Sow in the open, late in May, or early in June. Pick the leaves as wanted when once the plant is established. Cook and serve as spinach; the flavor is slightly acid. ICE-PLANT, NEW ZEALAND. See Spinach, New Zealand. JUR-NUT. See Peanut. KALE (Brassica oleracea acephala) is a non-heading plant of the cabbage family, grown for its leaves, which it bears either on a stalk or close to the ground; varieties have leaves of several colors. The leaves of Kale are usually curled at the edges, and the plants, being ornamental, are frequently used for bedding purposes, or for garnishing. The low-growing Kales do not transplant well, and are therefore usually sown where they are to stand. Kale is most prized as a spring or as a fall crop; for a spring crop it is often planted late and allowed to remain in the field during the winter, requiring in cold places only a light mulch. There are several varieties, their characteristics indicated above, some being dwarf. The low-growing Kales winter best. Sea-Kale is another plant; see under Sea-Kale. Soil as for cabbage, --strong, moist, and well enriched. Distances.--Rows and plants in rows, eighteen to thirty inches apart, according to variety. Depth of seed.--One-half to one inch. Sow in the North usually in.