ENDIVES 139 



require another 2 in. Another large variety called 

 " S ' carole geante " or " Giant Batavian," owing to its 

 size and vigour, requires about 18 in. between each 

 plant, to allow it to reach its proper size. 



The autumn plantations should be made not later 

 than the first week in September as a rule ; and then 

 it would be wise to have the plants in beds of the 

 same width as the lights and frames generally in use, 

 as these are handy for protection if necessary. 



Blanching and Tying. There are many ways of 

 blanching Endives, but one of the simplest is to tie 

 the plants up in the same way as recommended for 

 Lettuces when they are sufficiently developed say 

 when more than three-fourths of their growth has 

 been made. When the frosts appear, the plants 

 may be lifted carefully with a spade and transferred 

 to cellars or placed in frames spreading some dry 

 litter or straw over the plants in the latter to exclude 

 the light. In the open air, after the plants are tied 

 up, they must be liberally watered when necessary, 

 to encourage the whitening " hearts " in the centre 

 to mature as rapidly as possible. 



LEEKS 



The Leek (Allium Porrum) constitutes an important 

 crop in French as well as in English market-gardens, 

 and it is probable that, so far as open-air culture is 

 concerned, there is but little difference in methods 

 employed on both sides of the Channel.* Ideas, 

 however, differ a good deal, and the French prefer 

 the smaller and more quickly grown tender-stemmed 



