DANDELION 301 



After this treatment, the leaves in the center of the plant 



will have become blanched in 



about three weeks. Do not 



tie the plants too rapidly, since 



the hearts are liable to rot 



soon after blanching, especially 



if the weather is warm. On 



the approach of severe weather, 



the plants may be set in boxes 



in a cold cellar, where they 



will continue to produce nice 



blanched leaves during the 



early part of the winter. 



Varieties. A variety known 

 as Green Curled endive is generally grown, but other 

 varieties are offered by seedsmen. 



DANDELION (Taraxacum officinale) 



Description. Native of Europe. A perennial. The 

 dandelion is a familiar plant to almost every one. It is 

 now of spontaneous growth here and is used for greens in its 

 wild state, but the cultivated varieties are quite an improve- 

 ment on the wild plants. 



Culture. The best method of growing it is by sow- 

 ing the seed in the spring in drills ten inches apart 

 and thinning out the plants to three inches apart in rows. 

 The seed is somewhat difficult to start, and it is a good 

 plan to go over each row twice with the seed sower, so as 

 to mix the seed up with the soil, since by this method some 

 of it will be sure to be properly covered. It is sometimes 

 used in the fall, but not generally until spring. It is 

 often forced by covering the bed with the hotbed sash or 

 by transplanting to hotbeds or cold frames. 



