Chapter I: Preface

Though embracing all the directions necessary for the successful management of a Vegetable Garden, the present volume is offered to the public as a manual or guide to assist in the selection of varieties, rather than as a treatise on cultivation. Through the standard works of American authors, as well as by means of the numerous agricultural and horticultural periodicals of our time, all information of importance relative to the various methods of propagation and culture, now in general practice, can be readily obtained.

But, with regard to the characteristics which distinguish the numerous varieties; their difference in size, form, color, quality, and season of perfection; their hardiness, productiveness, and comparative value for cultivation,--these details, a knowledge of which is important as well to the experienced cultivator as to the beginner, have heretofore been obtained only through sources scattered and fragmentary.

To supply this deficiency in horticultural literature, I have endeavored, in the following pages, to give full descriptions of the vegetables common to the gardens of this country. It is not, however, presumed that the list is complete, as many varieties, perhaps of much excellence, are comparatively local: never having been described, they are, of course, little known. Neither is the expectation indulged, that all the descriptions will be found perfect; though much allowance must be made in this respect for the influence of soil, locality, and climate, as well as for the difference in taste of different individuals.

Much time, labor, and expense have been devoted to secure accuracy of names and synonymes; the seeds of nearly all of the prominent varieties having been imported both from England and France, and planted, in connection with American vegetables of the same name, with reference to this object alone.

The delay and patience required in the preparation of a work like the present may be in some degree appreciated from the fact, that in order to obtain some comparatively unimportant particular with regard to the foliage, flower, fruit, or seed, of some obscure and almost unknown plant, it has been found necessary to import the seed or root; to plant, to till, to watch, and wait an entire season.

Though some vegetables have been included which have proved of little value either for the table or for agricultural purposes, still it is believed such descriptions will be found by no means unimportant; as a timely knowledge of that which is inferior, or absolutely worthless, is often as advantageous as a knowledge of that which is of positive superiority.

That the volume may be acceptable to the agriculturist, seedsman, and to all who may possess, cultivate, or find pleasure in, a garden, is the sincere wish of the author.

F. B., JR.

HINGHAM, March, 1863.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

In the preparation of this work, I have received the cheerful co-operation of many esteemed personal friends, to whom I would here express my grateful acknowledgments.

For many valuable suggestions with regard to the culture and general management of the Potato, as well as for much important information respecting nearly all of our American varieties of this vegetable, I am indebted to J. F. C. HYDE, Esq., of Newton, Mass.; whose long experience in the production of seedlings, as well as in the cultivation of established kinds, will give peculiar value to this portion of the volume.

The illustrations, so excellent and truthful, are from the pencil of Mr. ISAAC SPRAGUE, of Cambridge, Mass.; whose fine delineations of animal as well as vegetable life have won for him the reputation of being "the first of living artists."

I am peculiarly indebted to Rev. E. PORTER DYER, of Hingham, for much valuable advice and assistance; and cannot too fully express my obligations for the unvarying kindness and courteous manner in which repeated, and perhaps often unseasonable, requests for aid have been received and granted.

My acknowledgments are also due to Hon. JOSEPH BRECK, author of "Book of Flowers," and late President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society; to CHARLES M. HOVEY, Esq., editor of "The Magazine of Horticulture," and President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society; to P. B. HOVEY, Esq., nurseryman and seedsman, of Cambridge, Mass.; and to DANIEL T. CURTIS, Esq., seedsman and florist, and for many years Chairman of the Committee on Vegetables of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

For information or other very acceptable assistance, I am also indebted to Rev. CALVIN LINCOLN, of Hingham; Rev. JOHN L. RUSSELL, of Salem, Mass.; JOHN A. BUTLER, Esq., of Chelsea, Mass.; EDWARD S. RAND, Jun., Esq., of Boston; Mr. AUSTIN BRONSON, of Enfield, N.H.; GEORGE W. PRATT, Esq., of Boston; JOHN M. IVES, Esq., of Salem, Mass.; Mr. JAMES SCOTT, of Hatfield, Mass.; Mr. ALONZO CRAFTS, of Whately, Mass.; Mr. JOHN C. HOVEY, of Cambridge, Mass.; Mr. ISAAC P. RAND, of Dorchester, Mass.; Mr. GEORGE EVERETT, of Concord, Mass.; and CALEB BATES, of Kingston, Mass.

From a work entitled "Descriptions des Plantes Potagères, par VILMORIN, ANDRIEUX, et CIE., Paris;" from CHARLES M'INTOSH'S excellent "Book of the Garden;" the "Gardener's Assistant," by ROBERT THOMPSON; "Rogers's Vegetable Cultivator;" and "Lawson's Agriculturist's Manual,"--I have made liberal extracts; and lest, in the course of the volume, any omission of authority may occur where it should have been accredited, my indebtedness to the valuable publications above mentioned is here candidly confessed.

In adapting directions for cultivation, prepared for one climate, or section of country, to suit that of another quite dissimilar, so much alteration of the original text has at times been found necessary, that I have not felt at liberty to affix the name of the original writer, but have simply added the usual marks denoting derivation of authority.

ABBREVIATIONS AND AUTHORITIES.

_Big._--Plants of Boston and Vicinity. By JACOB BIGELOW, M.D. Boston, 1840.

_Bon. Jard._--Le Bon Jardinier pour l'Année 1859. Par A. BOITEAU et M. VILMORIN.

_Corb._--The American Gardener. By WILLIAM CORBETT. Concord, Boston, and New York, 1842.

_Cot. Gard._--The Cottage Gardener. By GEORGE W. JOHNSON and ROBERT HOGG. Weekly. London.

_Count. Gent._--The Country Gentleman. By LUTHER TUCKER and SON. Weekly. Albany, N.Y.

_De Cand._--The Candolle's Systema Naturale. By Prof. DE CANDOLLE. 2 vols. 8vo. Paris, 1818, 1821.

_Down._--The Fruit and Fruit-trees of America. By A. J. DOWNING. Revised and corrected by CHARLES DOWNING, 1858.

_Gard. Chron._--The Gardener's Chronicle. Weekly. By Prof. LINDLEY. 1844 to the present time.

_Gray._--Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States. By Prof. ASA GRAY. New York, 1857.

_Hort._--The Horticulturist, and Journal of Art and Rural Taste. Monthly. By P. BARRY and J. JAY SMITH. Philadelphia.

_Hov. Mag._--The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany, and Rural Affairs. By C. M. HOVEY. Boston. Monthly. 1834 to the present time.

_Law._--The Agriculturist's Manual. By PETER LAWSON and SON. Edinburgh, 1836.

_Lind._--A Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden. By GEORGE LINDLEY. London, 1831.

_Loud._--Encyclopædia of Gardening. By J. C. LOUDON. London, 1850.

_Loud._--Encyclopædia of Agriculture. By J. C. LOUDON. London, 1844.

_Low._--The Elements of Practical Agriculture. By DAVID LOW. London, 1843.

_M'Int._--The Book of the Garden. By CHARLES M'INTOSH. 2 vols. Edinburgh and London, 1855.

_Mill._--The Gardener's and Botanist's Dictionary. By PHILIP MILLER. Revised by Prof. MARTYN. London, 1819.

_Neill._--Neill's Journal of a Horticultural Tour, &c. 8vo. Edinburgh, 1823.

_New Am. Cyclopædia._--New American Cyclopædia. D. APPLETON & Co., New York. 16 vols. royal 8vo. 1857 to 1863.

_Rog._--The Vegetable Cultivator. By JOHN ROGERS. London, 1851.

_Thomp._--The Gardener's Assistant. By ROBERT THOMPSON.

_Trans._--The Transactions of the London Horticultural Society. Commenced 1815, and continued at intervals to the present time.

_Vil._--Description des Plantes Potagères. Par VILMORIN, ANDRIEUX, et CIE. Paris, 1856.

* * * * *

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.--_Esculent Roots._

The Beet. Carrot. Chervil, Turnip-rooted. Chinese Potato, or
Japanese Yam. Chufa, or Earth Almond. German Rampion. Jerusalem
Artichoke. Kohl Rabi. Oxalis, Tuberous. Oxalis, Deppe's.
Parsnip. Potato. Radish. Rampion. Swede or Ruta-baga Turnip.
Salsify, or Oyster Plant. Scolymus. Scorzonera. Skirret.
Sweet Potato. Tuberous-rooted Chickling Vetch. Tuberous-rooted
Tropæolum. Turnip. 1-121

CHAP. II.--_Alliaceous Plants._

The Cive. Garlic. Leek. Onion. Rocambole. Shallot. Welsh
Onion. 122-148

CHAP. III.--_Asparaginous Plants._

The Artichoke. Asparagus. Cardoon. Hop. Oosung. Phytolacca.
149-169

CHAP. IV.--_Cucurbitaceous Plants._

The Cucumber. Egyptian Cucumber. Globe Cucumber. Gourd, or
Calabash. The Melon. Musk-melon. Persian Melons. Water-melon.
Papanjay, or Sponge Cucumber. Prickly-fruited Gherkin.
Pumpkin. Snake Cucumber. Squash. 170-228

CHAP. V.--_Brassicaceous Plants._

Borecole, or Kale. Broccoli. Brussels Sprouts. Cabbage. Cauliflower.
Colewort. Couve Tronchuda, or Portugal Cabbage. Pak-Chöi. Pe-Tsai,
or Chinese Cabbage. Savoy. Sea-kale. 229-286

CHAP. VI.--_Spinaceous Plants._

Amaranthus. Black Nightshade. Leaf-beet, or Swiss Chard. Malabar
Nightshade. Nettle. New-Zealand Spinach. Orach. Patience Dock.
Quinoa. Sea-beet. Shepherd's Purse. Sorrel. Spinach. Wild or
Perennial Spinach. 287-314

CHAP. VII.--_Salad Plants._

Alexanders. Brook-lime. Buckshorn Plantain. Burnet. Caterpillar.
Celery. Celeriac, or Turnip-rooted Celery. Chervil. Chiccory, or
Succory. Corchorus. Corn Salad. Cress, or Peppergrass. Cuckoo
Flower. Dandelion. Endive. Horse-radish. Lettuce. Madras
Radish. Mallow, Curled-leaf. Mustard. Nasturtium. Garden
Picridium. Purslain. Rape. Roquette, or Rocket. Samphire.
Scurvy-grass. Snails. Sweet-scented Chervil, or Sweet Cicely.
Tarragon. Valeriana. Water-cress. Winter-cress, or Yellow Rocket.
Wood-sorrel. Worms. 315-405

CHAP. VIII.--_Oleraceous Plants._

Angelica. Anise. Balm. Basil. Borage. Caraway. Clary. Coriander.
Costmary. Cumin. Dill. Fennel. Lavender. Lovage.
Marigold. Marjoram. Nigella. Parsley. Peppermint. Rosemary.
Sage. Savory. Spearmint. Tansy. Thyme. 406-449

CHAP. IX.--_Leguminous Plants._

American Garden-bean. Asparagus-bean. Lima Bean. Scarlet-runner.
Sieva. Chick-pea. Chickling Vetch. English Bean. Lentil. Lupine.
Pea. Pea-nut. Vetch, or Tare. Winged Pea. 450-560

CHAP. X.--_Medicinal Plants._

Bene-plant. Camomile. Coltsfoot. Elecampane. Hoarhound. Hyssop.
Licorice. Pennyroyal. Poppy. Palmate-leaved or Turkey Rhubarb.
Rue. Saffron. Southernwood. Wormwood. 561-578

CHAP. XI.--_Mushrooms, or Esculent Fungi._

Agaricus. Boletus. Clavaria. Morchella, or Morel. Tuber,
or Truffle. 579-591

CHAP. XII.--_Miscellaneous Vegetables._

Alkekengi, or Ground Cherry. Corn. Egg-plant. Martynia. Oil
Radish. Okra, or Gumbo. Pepper. Rhubarb, or Pie-plant. Sunflower.
Tobacco. Tomato. 592-652

INDEX 655

FIELD AND GARDEN VEGETABLES.