182 GARDENING 



bly bitter; and in ground manured with fermenting 

 dung, or too abundantly, its flavour is both altered 

 and degraded. The soil most favourable to it is a 

 light, and fresh, and moist loam, thoroughly dug, 

 moderately manured, and copiously watered. This 

 last circumstance is not only essential to its germi- 

 nation and development, but is the best remedy 

 against the disposition, always shown by the plant 

 in hot weather, to run into seed. An auxiliary 

 means to secure this end is to tie up the heads so as 

 to give them the form of a cone, which, by-the- 

 way, is the method also employed for bleaching the 

 plant. This is done by two lyings (one near the 

 roots of the leaves, the othet near the tops or 

 points), and which should be made in succession, 

 and at the distance of a few days from each other. 



The seeds of this plant are generally and best 

 sown in small beds. When the plants attain the 

 height of three inches, transfer them to the place 

 where they are to 'stand, and set them in rows at 

 the distance of ten or twelve inches apart. Keep 

 them free from weeds, water them frequently, and, 

 when full grown, tie up the heads, or cover them 

 with earthen pots reversed. The first and the last 

 crops (those of spring and autumn) are best, but, 

 with proper care, good ones may be had at midsum- 

 mer ; in this case, however, your plantation must 

 have a northern exposition. After tying, keep the 

 heads erect, for such as lean are apt to burst. 



The green curled endive is the best for fall plant- 

 ing, being the hardiest of all the different races. 

 The winter management of this plant does not dif- 

 fer from that of celery. 



CORN (Zea). This is a native of America, was 

 cultivated from time immemorial by the aborigines, 

 and was introduced into Europe about three centu- 

 ries ago. After a cultivation so long continued and 

 so general, the great number of varieties it now pre- 

 sents cannot be thought extraordinary. These are 



