Another fact which is equally to be deplored with this
small display of vegetables seen throughout the city is the
few varieties which are cultivated. In a former chapter
attention was drawn to the nutritious properties and ex-
quisite flavour of many vegetables which are easily grown,
but which are most unaccountably passed over, and it wiU
be remembered that the tomato was instanced in particular
as having a desperate struggle for existence, and that it was
years and years before it was finally received into favour.
Similarly in the case of salad plants there is the same
matter for complaint, and beyond the ordinary cabbage
lettuce, celery, cucumbers, 'and radishes, there is nothing
grown. And yet there ought to be inducement enough for
many of our young men to devote themselves to such a
healthy occupation as market gardening, with profit to
themselves and with benefit to the community. The market
gardens around Paris, although smaU, are cultivated to jjer-
fection. The French market gardeners, moreover, are, as a
rule, a very prosperous class ; they keep to themselves, and
marry among themselves. On making inquiries from the
leading seedsmen throughout Australia, and asking what
varieties of salad plants are mostly in vogue, you find that
the cabbage lettuce is almost the sole representative. And
thus it is that in the very climate where the system calls for
salads, so to speak, there is absolutely no attempt made to
supply a crying want. A brief reference to a few of these
salad plants will better illustrate the importance of their
culture. Here, as with the diff'erent vegetables, I applied
to headquarters for information, namely, to Mr. F. Turnen,
of the Department of Agi'iculture, Sydney, who once
more came to my assistance and courteously indicated the
SALADS, #c. 169
localities in which they are likely to do well. And it only
seems fitting and appropriate here to remark that Australia's
road to prosperity lies through her agriculture ; the hydro-
cephalic growth visible in every colony is unnatural and
needs rectification.
Lettuce. — Of this there are two varieties, the ordinary
cabbage lettuce and the cos, so named from the Island of
Cos in the ^gean Sea, which is also known as the upright,
or smooth-leaved lettuce. Although this latter is to be
obtained, yet in nine cases out of ten only the cabbage
lettucie is procurable. But, as a matter of fact, the upright
or smooth-leaved cos lettuce is of a more delicate flavour,
and when grown properly by having the leaves loosely tied
together at the top about ten days before cutting, it is more
crisp and juicy, and better adapted for saladings. In the
old country, too, the cos variety, with its long leaves, is
common enough, and is there preferred to the cabbage lettuce.
It is to be regretted, therefore, that we see so little of it.
Page 116
Presented as published in 1893. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Another fact which is equally to be deplored with this small display of vegetables seen throughout the city is the few varieties which are cultivated. In a former chapter attention was drawn to the nutritious properties and exquisite flavour of many vegetables which are easily grown, but which are most unaccountably passed over, and it will be remembered that the tomato was instanced in particular as having a desperate struggle for existence, and that it was years and years before it was finally received into favour. Similarly in the case of salad plants there is the same matter for complaint, and beyond the ordinary cabbage lettuce, celery, cucumbers, 'and radishes, there is nothing grown. And yet there ought to be inducement enough for many of our young men to devote themselves to such a healthy occupation as market gardening, with profit to themselves and with benefit to the community. The market gardens around Paris, although smaU, are cultivated to perfection. The French market gardeners, moreover, are, as a rule, a very prosperous class ; they keep to themselves, and marry among themselves. On making inquiries from the leading seedsmen throughout Australia, and asking what varieties of salad plants are mostly in vogue, you find that the cabbage lettuce is almost the sole representative. And thus it is that in the very climate where the system calls for salads, so to speak, there is absolutely no attempt made to supply a crying want. A brief reference to a few of these salad plants will better illustrate the importance of their culture. Here, as with the different vegetables, I applied to headquarters for information, namely, to Mr. F. Turnen, of the Department of Agriculture, Sydney, who once more came to my assistance and courteously indicated the
localities in which they are likely to do well. And it only seems fitting and appropriate here to remark that Australia's road to prosperity lies through her agriculture ; the hydrocephalic growth visible in every colony is unnatural and needs rectification.
Lettuce. — Of this there are two varieties, the ordinary cabbage lettuce and the cos, so named from the Island of Cos in the Aegean Sea, which is also known as the upright, or smooth-leaved lettuce. Although this latter is to be obtained, yet in nine cases out of ten only the cabbage lettuce is procurable. But, as a matter of fact, the upright or smooth-leaved cos lettuce is of a more delicate flavour, and when grown properly by having the leaves loosely tied together at the top about ten days before cutting, it is more crisp and juicy, and better adapted for saladings. In the old country, too, the cos variety, with its long leaves, is common enough, and is there preferred to the cabbage lettuce. It is to be regretted, therefore, that we see so little of it.