lobed, and beautifully frilled or curled on the borders; flowers
axillary, white, and small; the seeds are somewhat kidney-shaped, of a
yellowish-brown color, and retain their powers of germination five
years.

_Cultivation._--The seeds are sown the last of April or beginning of
May, and covered about an inch deep. The plants require much space, and
should be grown at least eighteen inches asunder. The best method is to
drop a few seeds where the plants are to grow; or to rake in a few seeds
sown broadcast, and transplant.

_Use._--No part of the plant is considered suitable for food; but the
elegantly curled leaves are employed for garnishing desserts.

* * * * *

MUSTARD.

BLACK MUSTARD.

Brown Mustard. Red Mustard. Sinapis nigra.

Black Mustard is a hardy, annual plant, introduced from Europe. In some
localities, it grows naturally in great abundance; and is regarded as a
troublesome weed, though its seeds furnish the common table mustard. Its
stem is four or five feet in height, round, smooth, and branching; the
leaves are lobed and toothed on the margin,--the radical or lower ones
rough, those of the upper portion of the stalk smooth; the flowers are
numerous, rather large, bright-yellow; the pods are erect, somewhat
four-sided, and are set closely against the sides of the stalk; the
seeds are small, round, brownish-black, and retain their germinative
powers many years; nearly eighteen thousand are contained in an ounce.

_Propagation and Cultivation._--It is raised from seeds, about four
quarts of which will be required for sowing an acre. It is sometimes
grown in the vegetable garden, but is generally cultivated in fields for
its seeds, which, as before remarked, furnish the common table mustard.
The sowing is usually made from the middle of April to the middle of
May. After making the surface of the ground fine and smooth, sow
broadcast, or thinly in shallow drills fourteen or fifteen inches apart;
cultivate during the season in the usual manner; and, in August, the
crop will be ready for harvesting. Cut the stalks at the ground before
the pods shed their seeds; and spread in a dry, light, and airy
situation, till they are sufficiently dried for threshing.

When grown for salad in the vegetable garden, it should be sown, and cut
for use, as directed for White Mustard.

"If the seed is covered to the depth of three inches or more, it will
lie dormant, and retain its po