374 



VEGETABLE FORCING 



and Belgium to the United States. Since that time and 

 on account of transportation difficulties and the scarcity 

 of the product, American gardeners have become more 

 interested in the crop and some of them are making it an 

 important factor in their operations. Wholesale prices 

 in this country previous to the war probably averaged 

 from 25 to 30 cents a pound, while more than double this 

 price has been obtained since the supply has been so 

 greatly decreased. 



There can be no doubt concerning the superior merits 

 of witloof chicory as a salad plant. It does not appeal to 

 all alike, but most people are very fond of the vegetable 

 and do not need to cultivate a taste for it. The heads or 

 shoots (Fig. 130) are creamy white in color, extremely 



tender, crisp, delicate and 

 agreeable in flavor. Though 

 it is generally used as a 

 salad, seasoning and flavor- 

 ing it in any manner that 

 may be desired, the heads 

 may also be cooked before 

 they are served. 



There can be no question 

 about this vegetable afford- 

 ing opportunities to the com- 

 mercial growers of the 

 United States. Our markets 

 are poorly supplied, and the 

 demand, as the vegetable be- 

 comes better known, will in- 

 crease. Many of the Ameri- 

 can gardeners have probably 

 thought that there was some- 

 thing peculiarly difficult or 

 mysterious about the culture 

 Fig. 130. witioof chicory. of witloof chicory, but we 



