Although many things eaten as salads contain other constituents of food
besides mineral matters their beneficial action in diet is due to the
latter. The practice of eating salads is not so common in Europe as
before the introduction of the potato, which, to a certain extent,
supplies the same kind of mineral matters to the blood. The practice of
eating salads is, nevertheless, to be highly commended; and many plants
formerly much used might now be consumed in this way with much advantage.
Plants thus used contain a larger quantity of mineral matter than
vegetables which have been boiled in water. Various plants used as
salads may be seen on the shelves, and are renewed from time to time.