134 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



the lights may be removed altogether if fine weather 

 prevails. 



It is doubtful if it would be worth the while of any 

 British market-grower to devote space to the culture 

 of Egg-plants, as even in France the prices realised 

 of late years have declined a good deal. 



ENDIVES 



Endive (Cichorium Endivia), supposed to have come 

 originally from India, is an excellent salad plant, and 

 as such is extensively grown by French market-gar- 

 deners. Although treated as an annual, Endive is 

 really a biennial, and may be divided into two distinct 

 kinds one having the leaves broad and entire, the 

 other having the leaves finely cut into crisped and 

 narrow segments. The broad-leaved Endives are 

 known as " Scaroles " or " Escaroles " to French 

 gardeners, while the varieties with finely cut and 

 divided leaves are called " Chicorees frisees." Of the 

 latter there are many varieties, the best-known being 

 the Italian, or " Chicoree fine d'ete," one of the quickest 

 growing and much cultivated in frames. Others are 

 the " Stag's Horn," or Rouen, Picpus, Ruffec, Meaux 

 (Fine-curled Winter), Passion, and Reine d'hiver 

 (Winter Queen), La Parisienne or Green Curled Paris 

 (fig. 34) all excellent varieties for growing in the open 

 air, although the first-named (the Rouen) is grown 

 in frames in spring. 



Frame Culture. Early in September, and again in 

 October, seeds of the Italian Endive (Chicoree fine 

 d'ete) are sown under cloches, but not on hot-beds. 

 When large enough to handle, the seedlings are pricked 



