60 OF ESCULEXTS. SECT. XV. 



autumn, i. e. at the end of July, and about Mid- 

 August, to gather in winter, and the beginning of 

 spring, being very hardy ; and the latter is sown early 

 in the new year for after use, though the prickly sort 

 does very well also for the same purpose. The 

 smooth is rather tender, but it grows larger, with 

 thicker leaves, and is therefore seldom sown other- 

 wise than at broad cast ; but the prickly is frequently 

 drilled, as between rows of other vegetables. Spi- 

 nach may be sown on pieces of ground, where it is 

 intended to plant cauliflowers, cabbages, or beans, or 

 horse-raddish, by dibble. 



At broad cast trample the seed in with the feet, 

 rather wide, that there may be a sufficient quantity 

 of mould to rake down over the seed. Hoe the 

 prickly sort to four inches apart, and the smooth to 

 six or more, in a rich soil. If in drills sow also thin, 

 and cover an inch deep. Some people thin the 

 plants in drills to three inches distance, and draw 

 every other for use, when those left will grow large, 

 and this may be proper with the smooth spinach ; 

 but it is more common not to thin the rows, and to 

 gather, by cutting the leaves down low, when more 

 will spring up again. It is a good way to sow spi- 

 nach in beds of four feet, with alleys, that it may be 

 the more conveniently attended and gathered, with- 

 out^ trampling the ground: Gardening in this way 

 of narrow beds will, in many cases, be found very 

 agreeable. 



To have a full succession of spinach, sow in Ja- 

 nuary and February, and afterwards again in three 

 weeks, and then every fortnight, or even oftener, for 

 it presently runs to seed in summer, especially if the 

 plants grow close. Some people are fond of drilled 

 spinach, as it is quickly gathered, and fancied to eat 

 the better ; but broad cast is commonly reckoned 

 the best way, and gathering the outside leaves, the 



