SPINACH. 



481 



SPIR^A. 



the ground forked up. If the soil is not 

 moderately rich, a slight dressing of well- 

 decayed manure should be applied ; but 

 this should be kept some distance under 

 the surface. 



Time and Manner of Sowing. For the 

 summer crop sow early in March, and at 

 intervals of three weeks or a fortnight, 

 until the middle of July, in quantities ac- 

 cording to the demand. The round-seeded 

 varieties are the best for summer crops. 

 The winter crop should be sown from the 

 middle of August to the beginning of Sep- 

 tember. The prickly-seeded is the hardiest 

 and should be partly used for this crop. 

 All the crops should be sown in drills, 

 from one to two inches deep, and from 12 

 to 15 inches apart, scattering the seed 

 thinly, and covering with the finest of the 

 soil. When the ground is dry, the drills 

 should be well soaked with water before 

 sowing. If the seed is steeped for twenty- 

 four hours before sowing, it will germinate 

 sooner ; but this should be done only 

 when the ground is hot and dry. 



After Management. The winter crop 

 should be thinned as soon as the plants are 

 strong enough to draw, so as to leave them 

 about 9 inches apart in the row ; but the 

 summer crops soon run to seed, and need 

 not be thinned to a greater distance in the 

 line than 3 inches. Some growers recom- 

 mend a liberal use of manure water for the 

 summer crop, and this doubtless increases 

 the size of the leaves ; but it must not be 

 depended upon to prevent the plants run- 

 ning to seed for more than a few days ; and 

 while the weather is hot a succession 

 should be provided for, by making fre- 

 quent sowings. Keep the ground between 

 the lines free from weeds, and in an open 

 state by frequent deep hoeings. 



Spinach, New Zealand and 

 Perennial. 



The former of these, not being so hardy 



as ordinary spinach, must be raised ii. 

 slight bottom heat, and planted out, ai 

 the end of May or beginning of June, in 

 light rich soil in a sunny situation in rows, 

 from 30 inches to 3 feet apart, and at the 

 same distance from each other in the rows. 

 It does not require watering like ordinary 

 spinach. Perennial spinach is grown in 

 the same way as red or white beet, which 

 it much resembles in the habit of its leaves, 

 which are stripped from the plant, boiled 

 and eaten. 



Spiraea (naf. ord. Rosa'cese). 



A genus of shrubby plants, mostly hardy 

 perennials, bearing pyramidal spikes oi 



pink or white flowers, thriving in rich 

 loamy soil, and requiring plenty of water. 

 They are propagated by division of the 

 roots or by offsets taken from the side oi 

 parent root stock. The Spiraea Japonic a 

 is much used for winter decoration of the 

 conservatory, and large consignments for 

 this purpose are received from abroad. The 

 Common Meadow Sweet (S. ulmaria) is * 

 beautiful species of this genus indigenous 

 to Britain. 



