New-York tribune., 1912-02-27

that come by nature. From mid March
forward. depending of course upon the
latitude, they are to he had for the pick
ing I'm many, many places. To be sure they
are grown in variety, as they well deserve
10 be. But that is no reason for despising
or neglecting the bounties of the wild.
Take the dandeliop. for instance. 1t is one
Of the earliest. also one OF the plentiest:
also again. one whose cutting and keeping
under are wholly desirable. Self-sown
wherever there is standing grass, # mars
and blotches the turf. yet makes abundant
return in the beauty OF It's blossoms, the
piauant and wholesome bitter of its tender
leaves. This is so well recognized by those
past masters Of economy. the Italian immi
grants, that all their food shops in the sea-
son sell dandelons regularly. Tie supply2
Women and children provide II. going
aheld, even though they must walk long
distances, and coming home with bursting
sackfuls. partly for home consumption,
partly also for profit. The surplus, ex-
changed with the grocer for other neces-
sarics. lessons still further the food bills.
Moreover. the gathering hours spent in the
open are help, a very godsend, TO folk OF
the tenements. Again. the green's them
selves have a specific remedial value. being
gentle vet effective stimulants OF the most
important excretions. Sluggish livers espe-
cially respond so well to them that the ex-
tract has a recognized place I'm pharmacy.
Wherefore all We who can, whether landed
or landless make haste TO crop the early
dandeon. also the late one, that you may
add something to both health and wealth.
III &c hnr
spring dish. pquantly appetizing. Cut 1t
while It is tender-if a seed stalk has
formed take for cooking only the lower
leaves growing on It. A few punches OF
pepper grass, boiled with the mustard, give
1t a biting tang many palates approve.
The boiling must be thorough-this Is Inn
perative for all greens. 4 bit Of bacon
boiled with the green's sets them Off won
derfuly. With n scant mess Of them, boil
the bacon at least an hour before putting
in the greens. and when they are very
tender take out the meat and sprinkle in
slowly sifted cornmeal enough to make a
fairly thick mush. Stir the pot well so
the greens shall he well distributed
through tho mush Add salt to taste. pep
per If approved. A spring onion boiled
with the greens improves the flavor for
those who have an onion palate.
The herb known 10 the countryside as
| lambs quarter is another good Wild green
Treat It the same as charlock Dandelons
II very well grown, are more delicate IL
scalded I'm boiling water before putting
them TO cook The young shoots Of milk
weed are said TO be almost as good eating
as asparagus II rightly treated. That IS
to say. boiled tender. taking care not 10
| break them. adding a little salt 10 the boil
| ing water. and serving the shoots with real
melted butter. made very salt. well pep
| pered and mixed with its own bulk Of hot
vinegar. Vinegar. indeed, is a necessity
! with greens Of almost any sort. Claret
| vinegar is recommended for milk weed
| sprouts !, myself have never eaten them,
| but set forth their virtues on informal tion
| and belief.
Far otherwise with poke salad" dear 10
the palate OF the South country. II Is the
| beginning Of poke weed, whose crimson
| lusty stalks and dropping racemes OF glIs-
tening black berries make so brave a show
ing in hedgerows and along roadsldes. The
root Is perennial-the longer II has stood
in one place the earlier and bigger are the
shoots cropped for salad. They arc best
cut at long-finger height but edible even
when they stand mid-leg high. Wash them
well. taking care not to bruise them. put
them over the FIRE I'm clear cold water
bring to quick boil let cook five minutes.
then drain off the water very thoroughly
and put the greens I'm with the bacon,
which should have already been boiled ten
der. Cook well. draIh and serve with hard
boiled eggs cut in rings the same as spin
ach. Poke salad" Is much better than
spinach. Shifting the water takes away the
bitter taste. which. if the stalks are over
tail, or even when they are not, if they
have grown very quickly, mars the delicate
flavor. Like the dandeion, poke weed has
a standing in medicne-both the root and
the berries are used I'm rheumatic affec-