CHAP. VI.] ENDIVE, SUCCORY. 153 



Endive is a native of China and Japan, in- 

 troduced before 1548. In most cases it is sown 

 in large gardens at three times, viz. in June, 

 July, and August; but, in small gardens, one 

 sowing is generally thought sufficient, and that 

 is made in June. The seeds are sown very 

 thinly in beds of rich mellow earth; and, when 

 the plants are from four to six inches high, they 

 are transplanted into beds of rich light earth, 

 where they are planted in drills about a foot 

 apart in the line; and as they stow they are 

 occasionally earthed up. "When the plants are 

 about three parts grown, the outer leaves are 

 tied over the hearts to blanch them, with 

 strands of bast mat or osier twigs; a dry day 

 being chosen for the operation. Onlv a few 

 plants should be tied up at a time; and thev 

 should be seldom allowed to stand more than a 

 fortnight or three weeks after the operation ; 

 as, if they remain longer, particularly if the 

 weather be wet, they begin to rot. In wet or 

 cold seasons endive is best blanched by turning 

 a sea-kale pot over each root, instead of tying 

 down the outer leaves; as, if the plant should not 

 be dry when it is tied down, it is apt to rot. 

 There are two distinct kinds of endive : the 

 Broad-leaved, or Batavian, and the Curled- 

 leaved, which last is the most common, and to 

 which the French give the name of chicoree. 



The true Chicory or Succory is sometimes 

 called wild endive; but the French name for 

 it is barbe de capucin. It is common in cal- 

 careous and sandy soils in different parts of 

 England, where it is conspicuous from its bright 

 blue flowers. Its culture is the same as that 



