The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-02-21
LittIe.KnoMn Esculents.

Acclimation offered a prize of 500
francs 'for the introduction of an es-
culent which can be used as human
This prize has recently been
awarded to M. Paillieux for Gamma
edulis, or the edible Gamma of South
America, a plant that has been cult
waited more or less in Europe for the
past sixty years. In Peru, where it is
found growing wild, it is called capucho
by the natives, and it is closely allied
to the common cannas of our gardens.
M. PaillieuX, after cu~ltivating this
plant for a number of years, made
some experiments to determine its
economic value and reported the re-
suits to the judges appointed by the
above named society, who awarded
him the prize. We are not informed in
regard to the preparation of the root
of this edible Gamma, but as it belongs
to the arrow-root family, it is to bepre-
sumed that it is the extracted, starchy
matter that is used, although it may
be that the entire roots are cooked.
This species, as well as the East India
species of Gamma, grows freely in our
gardens, although the roots are tender
and must be kept in a dry place in
winter; but in the Southern States they
would no doubt remain in the ground
without injury, although this of itself
would not be of much advantage, as
the lifting and dividing the root stocks
every year is necessary to obtain a
large yield. A much larger amount of
food can be produced per acre with
such plants than is possible with any
of our cereals and the time may come
when they will be as extensively cult
waited in this country as in those where
the cereals, do not thrive SO well as
with u.s..
The edible burdock is one of the
latest additions to our list of vegetables.
1t is closely allied to the common bur-
dock (Lappa mGjor), but comes from
Japan, where it is known under the
name of goba, and it will probably
prove hardy in most of our Northern
States. This species of burdock has
been known to botanists for many
years, but its value as a vegetable is a
recent discovery. 1t is of very easy
culture, thriving in almost any good
soil, provided it has been worked over
deeply, for the roots are the edible por-
ton, and they must have as good q
chance to grow as beets, carrots and
similar roo crops. The seed is sown
in spring, and the roots are ready for
use in autumn, and are cooked and
prepared for the table in the same way
as satisfy or the oyster plant, which
they resemble in flavor.
We receive from time to time valua-
BILE plants from all parts of the world,
with occasionally a new esculent among
them, but at the same time we neglect
those that are native of our own coun-
try. There are, probably very few of
tender tops and leaves of the common
milk weed (ASctepiaS cornuti) as a sub
stitute for spinach, but we can assure
those who have not that a most excel
lent dish of s:greens' awaits them in
this almost universally despised plant.
The farmers wife is often puzzled to
know what to served up as a relish or
vegetable with meats, and in the inter-
val between the exhaustion of the winter
supply and the arrival of the summer
crop there is frequently a scarcity Of
vegetables for the table. At such times
the wild plants that are wholesome and
will furnish a dish of greens are usually
sought and highly appreciated. We
know of nothing better to take the
place of asparagus than the young sue
culent shoots of the common
Virginia poke (Pbytolacca decdndrG).
In fact, there are families well supplied
with asparagus who like to change this
vegetable occasionally for a dish of
poke sprouts. The stems of plants
growing in rich soil are always very
tender and succulent, even when a foot
OF two high, but only about six or eight
inches of the upper part is generally
taken for use. A very moderate-sized
bed of this plant will furnish a family
with an excellent vegetable for several
weeks during the early part of the sum-
mer, although it grows wild almost
everywhere, and is especially common
about barnyards, old buildings and in
neglected gardens. The surest way.
however, of having a supply at hand
when wanted, is to plant the roots OF
seeds in some convenient spot in the
vegetable garden. A change of food
occasionally is as important to the
farmer and his family as it is to his
stock, and fresh vegetables from the
garden in spring and early summel
are conducive to good health.
We certainly have IN abundance OF
| old and we'll known esculents that have
long been inhabitants of our gardens,
but it is not every one who attempts to
cultivate them that keeps up a supply
for the table all the year round, and the
farmer is fully as likely to neglect such
things as persons who have only small
gardens. Besides, there is seldom @
good market in the country where sup
plies of this kind can be obtained, and
substitutes for cultivated kinds must be
sought in the woods and fields. Water.
cress, marsh marigold, Or cowslips.
milk weed, poke weed. and young net
ties, and similar plants often serve 5
good purpose if they are not in all case.
quite equal to the better known cult.
yated kinds,-N, Y. SHn.