SUMMER AND WINTER SPINACH 261 



because of its long leaf growth before sending up seed stems. The 

 Round of Summer is also considerably used. 



For greens in the hot and dry summer and dry autumn, the 

 New Zealand spinach is making a fine record in California. It was 

 introduced and widely distributed by the State University, and has 

 been handled for years by the California seedsmen on the basis of 

 its local suitability. Even in interior situations it grows on dry 

 ground all summer, and maintains rich green color until frost kills 

 the top growth. The stems and foliage are very sensitive to frost, 

 but the root is more hardy and gives new growth and is useful in 

 the spring. The plant sends out shoots of considerable length which 

 may be cut off for cooking. Its tenderness and flavor are vouched 

 for by many growers. Early summer cutting may be had by start- 

 ing plants with bottom heat and planting out like eggplants, but in 

 our long summer, sowing in the spring after frost danger is over, 

 gives abundant foliage in late summer and autumn. 



Spinach has recently added greatly to its commercial import- 

 ance in California by the operation of the canners. Large fields 

 are grown especially to fill contracts with the canneries. It is the 

 winter growing varieties which serve this demand. They are grown 

 by rainfall from fall planting. 



