succeeded by roundish fruits,
each of which contains two crescent-shaped seeds.

_Sowing and Culture._--It thrives best in light, deep loam; and is
raised from seed sown annually. Make the drills two and a half or three
feet apart, and cover the seeds an inch deep. When the plants are two or
three inches high, thin to twelve inches apart; or sow a few seeds in a
nursery-bed, and transplant.

_Blanching._--When the plants are well advanced, they should be
gradually earthed up about the stems in the process of cultivation, in
the manner of blanching Celery or Cardoons; like which, they are also
gathered for use, and preserved during winter.

_To raise Seed._--Leave a few plants unblanched; protect with
stable-litter, or other convenient material, during winter; and they
will flower, and produce an abundance of seeds, the following summer.

_Use._--It was formerly much cultivated for its leaf-stalks; which,
after being blanched, were used as a pot-herb and for salad. They have a
pleasant, aromatic taste and odor; but the plant is now rarely grown,
Celery being almost universally preferred.

PERFOLIATE ALEXANDERS.

Smyrnium perfoliatum.

A hardy, biennial species, from Italy; stem three feet in height,
grooved or furrowed, hollow; leaves many times divided, and of a
yellowish-green color; flowers, in terminal bunches, yellowish-white;
seeds black, of the form of those of the common species, but smaller.

It is considered superior to the last named, as it not only blanches
better, but is more crisp and tender, and not so harsh-flavored.

* * * * *

BROOK-LIME.

American Brook-lime. Marsh Speedwell. Veronica beccabunga.

Brook-lime is a native of this country, but is also common to Great
Britain. It is a hardy perennial, and grows naturally in ditches, and
streams of water, but is rarely cultivated. The stem is from ten to
fifteen inches in height, thick, smooth, and succulent, and sends out
roots at the joints, by which the plant spreads and is propagated; the
leaves are opposite, oval, smooth, and fleshy; the flowers are produced
in long bunches, are of a fine blue color, and stand upon short
stems,--they are more or less abundant during most of the summer, and
are followed by heart-shaped seed-vessels, containing small, roundish
seeds.

_Cultivation._--It may be propagated by dividing the roots, and setting
the plants in wet localities, according to their natural habit. It w