These are Oxalis Aceto-sella, Wood Sorrel; Rumex acetosa, Garden Sorrel; R. scutatus, French or Roman Sorrel.

Soil And Situation

They thrive best in any garden soil that tends to lightness rather than tenacity, and is not too poor. The situation must be open.

Propagation

The rumexes are propagated by seed, and all of them by parting the roots, both which modes may be practised from the middle of February until the same period in May, and by the latter also in September and, October. The finest plants are raised by seed, but those from portions of the roots are soonest in production.

The seed is best sown in drills, six or eight inches apart, and half an inch in depth. When two or three inches high, the seedlings must be thinned to three or four inches apart, and those removed, if required, pricked out at similar distances. In September or October, or in the March and April of the succeeding year, they may be removed into their final stations, in rows twelve inches apart, each way, or, if the French, eighteen inches. The only attention they require down to this state of their growth, is to be kept clear of weeds, and to have water given in moderate quantities after each removal, until established.

When divisions of the root are employed, they must be set at once where they are to remain, at the final distances above mentioned; and the same attention paid in weeding and watering them. Established plants must in a like manner be kept constantly free from weeds. In summer, as they run up to seed, the stalks must be cut down as often as is required, to encourage the production of leaves. In autumn and spring, the surface of the ground should be gently stirred, and in the former season, a little manure, or in preference, a similar proportion of de-. cayed leaves, turned in. Some garden-ers raise fresh seedlings annually, but a fresh plantation is seldom necessary oftener than every fourth year; before which, however, it must be made, if the plants dwindle or produce diminutive leaves.

To Obtain Seed

Some plants must not be gathered from, and allowed to run up unchecked. They flower in the course of June, July, and August, perfecting their seed in autumn. Wood-sorrel never produces seed. See Ox-alis.