378 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



CORN SALAD is less pungent than cress, but will not 

 prove so generally useful. It is cultivated precisely like 

 cress. Only one variety is offered by American seeds- 

 men. 



ENDIVE may be grown at almost any season of the year, 

 from early spring to late fall. In mild climates it may 

 also be sown in the fall, covered during winter, and 

 harvested at the first opening of spring. Sow in drills, 

 as directed for cress. The plants are best blanched. This 

 is done by tying up the outer leaves on a bright, clear 

 day (Fig. 250), or by covering the row with an inverted 

 trough of boards, like a V upside down. It is then best 

 to throw some earth against the trough to keep it cool. 

 For winter use, plants may be taken out of the rows 

 in fall, with a large ball of soil upon the roots, and 

 stored in a cellar, or in a tight coldframe till wanted. 

 White Curled is the best variety. Green Curled is hardier, 

 but more refractory in blanching. 



CHICORY is cultivated like endive, except that it is 

 not so good for successional sowings, but is better for 

 fall sowing and spring use. The plants are grown in 

 drills, and when blanched like endive, make a delecta- 

 able salad. The Large -rooted is the variety chiefly 

 grown in America, the roots being used as a substitute 

 for coffee. 



DANDELION, when grown and blanched like endive or 

 chicory, makes a very acceptable salad. It is more often 

 used, however, as a pot-herb, that is, for "greens." 

 To secure it early in the spring for this purpose, fall 

 planting is necessary. The plants are then covered with 

 a clean mulch, which is removed at the earliest possi- 

 ble moment in spring. It is worth while to sow selected 

 seed. The Improved Large-leaved is a good variety. 



SPINACH is more commonly grown for a pot-herb 

 than any other plant. For early use it should be sown 

 in the fall, and the plants wintered under a clean mulch, 



