CORN-SALAD

corn-salad, or lamb's lettuce, _valerianella olitoria_ (natural order valerianaceae), a weedy annual, native of southern europe, but naturalized in cornfields in central europe, and not infrequent in britain. in france it is used in salads during winter and spring as a substitute for lettuces, but it is less esteemed in england. the plant is raised from seed sown on a bed or border of light rich earth, and should be weeded and watered, as occasion requires, till winter, when it should be protected with long litter during severe frost. the largest plants should be drawn for use in succession. sowing may be made every two or three weeks from the beginning of august till october, and again in march, if required in the latter part of the spring. the sorts principally grown are the round-leaved and the italian; the last is a distinct species, _valerianella eriocarpa_.