MUSTARD, DANDELION, AND MINTS. 143 
southern-grown product, make it unprofitable. Only now 
and then is a man found who is able to make frame- 
grown spinach pay. We have grown it in the forcing- 
house, and find that it forces readily with the same tem- 
perature and treatment which are given to lettuce. 
Mustard.— Any of the pot-herb mustards are easily 
grown in a lettuce or carnation house. One of the best 
types is the Chinese mustard. This makes an attractive 
edging to chrysanthemum or lily beds. The seeds are 
sown where the plants are to stand, although they may 
be sown in pots or flats and the plants transplanted to 
their permanent quarters. 
Dandelion. — This plant is grown somewhat extensively 
in the open in parts of the eastern states, particularly 
about Boston, for greens. It is also occasionally forced. 
Spring-sown plants are lifted in the fall and transplanted 
to a cool house. The leaves should be ready for cutting 
by the holidays. As soon as the cutting is completed, 
the crowns are thrown out and the bed or bench is used 
for other crops. The French improved varieties are the 
kinds of dandelions to be grown. The crop of these 
may be followed by lettuce, White Spine cucumbers or 
radishes. 
Mints of various kinds are readily grown in cool 
houses, such as are adapted to lettuce and violets. The 
species most commonly grown are sage and spearmint 
(Mentha viridis), for which there is generally a good de- 
mand, in eastern cities, at Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
Sods of the sage or mint may be dug and placed directly 
in the house, care being taken to cut the sods very deep, 
and not to break them in the transfer. Better results are 
obtained, however, by planting the mint permanently in a 
solid bed, and covering it over with sash at forcing time. 
Heating pipes should be laid alongside the bed. From 
six to eight weeks are required to bring the mint to cut- 
ting size. 
