284 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



fined to a few sections, as the crop will not thrive on every kind of 

 soil. A deep, rich loam, without excessive amounts of clay or sand, is 

 desirable, and soil that is not too rich in nitrogenous matter is best 

 suited to the production of roots. The roots are frequently placed in 

 soil under a greenhouse bench or in a warm cellar and covered with 

 a foot or more of straw, or with a light covering of straw and then 

 several inches of warm manure. Under this covering the leaves will 

 be formed in a solid head, which is known on the market as witloof. 

 Chicory has run wild in some parts of the country and is considered 

 a bad weed. The handsome blue flowers, which are borne the second 

 season, are very attractive. As a pot herb chicory is used like spin- 

 ach, but the leaves should be boiled in two waters to remove the bit- 

 ter taste. As a salad the roots are dug in the autumn and planted in 

 cellars or under a greenhouse bench, where they produce an abund- 

 ance of blanched leaves, which are eaten raw. The blanched leaves 

 are also boiled and used as greens. (F. B. 255; U. Idaho E. S. 10.) 



CHILE. 



The chile is used in many different ways and it is quite an im- 

 portant article of food among the Spanish speaking population in the 

 Southwest and in Mexico. It is eaten both in the green and ripe 

 state. It may be grown on ridges or in level plats. The former 

 method is the more common in New Mexico. In the spring after the 

 ground has been plowed and leveled (the plowing of the land can be 

 done in the fall or winter) and just a little before planting the ridges 

 are made. These ridges may vary in height from 8 to 12 inches. It 

 is better to irrigate the ridges before planting, though this is not 

 always done. The object of irrigating before planting is to get the 

 water mark on the side of the ridges and to settle the newly plowed 

 soil somewhat. As soon as the soil is dry enough so it can be worked, 

 which is generally from four to seven days, the seed is planted usually 

 on one side of the ridge and just above the water mark. The seed is 

 planted by hand in hills about every two feet in the row. The chile 

 does not stand freezing weather, though it will stand a little more cold 

 than tomatoes. For the convenience of intending chile growers the 

 following table which gives the number of hills per acre at different 

 distances has been prepared : 



Number of 

 Distance. Hills per Acre. 



S 1 /^ feet between rows x 2 feet in the row 6222 



3% feet between rows x 2^ feet in the row 4978 



4 feet between rows x 2 feet in the row 5445 



4 feet between rows x 2% feet in the row 4356 



Planting. The seed is planted on the side of the ridge, when 

 the ridge method is practiced. The southern exposure of the ridge is 

 always preferable since this is usually warmer and the germination, 

 other factors being uniform, is quicker. If level culture is practiced 

 there is no choice of exposure. Whatever method of planting is fol- 

 lowed care should be taken not to bury the seed too deeply. As a gen- 

 eral thing the seed should not be deeper than three-fourths of an 

 inch to an inch and a half. Shallower planting, if the moisture is 

 kept normal, will give quicker and better germination. More seed is 



