i22 BUIST'S FAMILY KITCHEN GARDENER. 



about the end of March, and, frequently, to the middle of May 

 It succeeds in any common garden soil, but the more it has 

 been previously enriched with manure, the better. Indeed it 

 will not produce its large, expansive leaves, nor fully develope 

 its extraordinary growth, unless highly nurtured. It is a rank 

 grower, and consequently a gross feeder. Always select an 

 open situation, avoiding the vicinity of trees or buildings. If 

 the ground is light and dry, it should be trodden down firmly, 

 or rolled with a roller. The Spring crops can be sown very 

 conveniently between Peas, or on ground where the Pole Beans 

 are intended to be planted. The crop must be well hoed and 

 faithfully cultivated, which draws the moiiture to the roots, 

 encouraging the growth. Where the ground is in proper con- 

 dition, the plants n?iy stand nine inche? apart, and the crop 

 will be easily gathered ; but if the ground is poor and the 

 plants stinted, the produce is nearly worthless. The seeds 

 will come up in from ten days to two weeks. Thin out the 

 plants when too thick ; if they have three or four leaves an inch 

 broad, they may be used till the main crop is sufficiently 

 thinned. When the plants have leaves two or three inches 

 broad, they will be fit for gathering, which is done by croping 

 the outer leaves, the root and heart remaining to shoot out 

 again. We have seen leaves of the Round and Flanders 

 Spinach two feet in circumference. In this vicinity, the Win- 

 ter Spinach has generally a very thin layer of straw or other 

 light covering laid over it. which greatly protects the roots and 

 prevents their being thrown out by the frost. Gardeners who 

 have any emulation, endeavor to cover a portion of their most 

 advanced crop with mats, or any covering that they can take 

 off in mild weather. This enables them to procure a dish of 

 this vegetable at any period during the Winter months. We 

 would further observe, that if this crop is not kept quite thin, 

 but one plant allowed to touch its neighbor, they will draw 

 up and speedily run to seed. Two ounces of seed will plant 

 five drills, each forty feet long. 



