The Green Curled. The White Curled. The Batavian, or Broad-leaved.
These are sown usually in June and July, and planted out for use in the autumn and winter. Endive is well known as forming a principal part of our winter salads; for which purpose, it is usual with gardeners to blanch it, by tying the plants up together, and laying them in dry places.
439. ESCHALOT. Allium ascalonium.—This species of allium is very pungent: its scent is not unpleasant, but is very strong, and, in general, it is preferred to the onion for making soups and gravies. It is propagated by planting the bulbs in September and October: they are fit to take up in May and June, when they are dried and kept for use.
440. FENNEL. Anethum Foeniculum.—The use of this plant is so well knwon in the kitchen, as to render an account of it useless. It is propagated by sowing seeds in the spring.
441. GARLICK. Allium sativum.—This is used in the art of cookery in various ways, for soups, pickles, &c. It is cultivated by planting the small cloves or roots in the month of October. It is fit to pull up in spring; and the roots are dried for use.
442. GOURD. Cucurbita Melopepo.—The inhabitants of North America boil the squash or melon gourds when about the size of small oranges, and eat them with their meat. The pulp is used with sour apples to make pies. In scarcity it is a good substitute for fruit.
443. KOHLRABBI, or TURNEP-ROOTED CABBAGE. Brassica Rapa var.—We have two kinds of this in cultivation; but although these are both much eaten in Germany, they are not esteemed with us: in fact, we have so many varieties of the cabbage kind all the year round for culinary purposes, that nothing could much improve them. In countries further north than we are, this is probably an acquisition, as, from its hardiness, it is likely to stand the frost better than some of the more delicate varieties.
444. LEEKS. Allium Porrum.—There are two kinds of leeks: the Welsh and London.
Leeks are used principally in soups; they partake much of the nature of onions, but for this purpose are in general more esteemed. This plant has been so long cultivated in this country, that its native place is not known.
The seeds are sown in the spring, and it is in use all the winter.