114 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Feb., 1919. 



allow of the fullest growth possible to the root, which readily goes 

 down, rendering the plant more or less drought-resistant. 



While thriving on most soils, chicory is best adapted to sandy loams 

 permitting of deep cultivation. Clay soils are apt to pack together, 

 rendering the lifting of the crop very difficult, and to adhere to the 

 roots. Chicory prefers a soil containing lime, and thrives on some- 

 what brackish soils. Ground too rich in nitrogenous matter may pro- 

 duce too much leaf and top at the expense of the root, and land on 

 which there is stagnant water will not give good results. Soils too 

 wet for ordinary farm crops are also too wet for chicory, hindering 



Chicory Plant in blossom. 



early growth and preventing proper ripening ® roots. On the 

 other hand, soils too dry to produce some farr^'^P.^^^^^o^^ "'liga- 

 tion may raise a crop of chicory, but soils too<^ ^"'^ ^ ^^^ yield good 

 marketable roots. j. 



Chicory may be grown after or before \, ordinary crops, and 

 either with or without irrigation, though naf/^ the former method 

 gives the best yields. Stubble lands should b®^^ and deeply ploughed. 

 It is not advisable to grow chicory on tb'™? , ^^^^ indefinitely, as 

 the yield and quality are sure to suffer. "''°^^^' therefore, he desir- 

 able to grow this crop in rotation with'®^^' ^^^^ ^» ™aize, peas, 



