Malabar Spinach
(climbing type). A peculiar form of spinach, known botanically as Basella Alba, from India. A very fast grower. This new kind of spinach has distinct advantages. All the ground you need is a few inches near the house in which to plant a few seeds. Two vines are sufficient to supply a small family all summer. Ornamental, also, train them over the front door where they are handy to cut off it you like. Being off the ground, this spinach is always clean and not necessary to repeatedly wash and pick over. Big thick, fleshy leaves are cut off together with whatever length stem needs pruning to keep the plant in bounds. Stems that seem too tough to eat can be put back in the soil and re-rooted. Soon there is more tender spinach growing. In India the poorest villager is able to raise a few vines of it to eat along with his plain boiled rice. Indians have a saying which sets forth the best thing in its class. It loses by translation; the following is part of it: “The best thing among men in mui or (me).” “The best thing among fish is rui or (rui fish).” “The best among greens is pui ( this climbing spinach)” “Pui” is considered not only a great delicacy, but it is deserving of honor as a useful plant. Planted beside the Indian's cottage, where he can watch it, soon scrambles all over his thatched roof. Thus his thatched house becomes a veritable garden with various gourds and pumpkins among the spinach. That way they are safe from the depredations of cows and goats, which are left to roam for food. Monkeys, now and then, have to be shooed off, but they really prefer peas and tomatoes if they can find them. An earthen pot upside down on a pole, especially it if has some white dots on its bottom, averts “the evil-eye.” this climbing spinach may be cooked as you prefer, but if you wish to taste the real Bengali version, cook it with chopped onions and hot chilies, then fry in a little mustard oil. Pkt., (25 seeds) 50c.
(climbing type). A peculiar form of spinach, known botanically as Basella Alba, from India. A very fast grower. This new kind of spinach has distinct advantages. All the ground you need is a few inches near the house in which to plant a few seeds. Two vines are sufficient to supply a small family all summer. Ornamental, also, train them over the front door where they are handy to cut off it you like. Being off the ground, this spinach is always clean and not necessary to repeatedly wash and pick over. Big thick, fleshy leaves are cut off together with whatever length stem needs pruning to keep the plant in bounds. Stems that seem too tough to eat can be put back in the soil and re-rooted. Soon there is more tender spinach growing. In India the poorest villager is able to raise a few vines of it to eat along with his plain boiled rice. Indians have a saying which sets forth the best thing in its class. It loses by translation; the following is part of it: “The best thing among men in mui or (me).” “The best thing among fish is rui or (rui fish).” “The best among greens is pui ( this climbing spinach)” “Pui” is considered not only a great delicacy, but it is deserving of honor as a useful plant. Planted beside the Indian's cottage, where he can watch it, soon scrambles all over his thatched roof. Thus his thatched house becomes a veritable garden with various gourds and pumpkins among the spinach. That way they are safe from the depredations of cows and goats, which are left to roam for food. Monkeys, now and then, have to be shooed off, but they really prefer peas and tomatoes if they can find them. An earthen pot upside down on a pole, especially it if has some white dots on its bottom, averts “the evil-eye.” this climbing spinach may be cooked as you prefer, but if you wish to taste the real Bengali version, cook it with chopped onions and hot chilies, then fry in a little mustard oil. Pkt., (25 seeds) 50c.