VEGETABLES 49 



them out on a bed of rich Hght soil. The plants in 

 the seed-bed should be thinned to three inches, and 

 must be watered in dry weather. When planted 

 they should be set in rows twelve inches apart. 

 Water must be applied every evening till the plants 

 are established. 



Much endive is lost because so many growers 

 blanch too much at one time, or omit to store the 

 bulk of the crop out of the reach of frost. The 

 plants decay very quickly after the tips of the 

 leaves have been crippled by frost. 



The safest plan is to grow the endives in beds, 

 covered by lights or mats whenever frosts are 

 expected. Often endive is spoilt by either blanch- 

 ing too much at a time, or because the bulk of the 

 crop has not been stored out of reach of frosts. 

 Endive when lifted carefully will keep wonderfully 

 well in sheds, and when there is but little space it 

 can be stored in conical heaps surrounded by dry 

 sand, the points of the leaves being well brought 

 together so as to protect the hearts facing out- 

 wards. 



To Blanch Endive. — Endive keeps badly after 

 it is blanched, therefore very little should be done 

 at a time. This operation should not be begun till 

 the plants are fully grown, and as long as the 

 plants can be left in the open, the blanching can be 

 most simply effected by tying the outer leaves well 

 together, excluding the light from the hearts ; they 

 can also be enclosed singly in 6-inch or larger 

 pots inverted over them and the holes stopped ; 

 also slates or tiles may be laid on them. 



Endives should be kept well moistened at the 

 roots, as dryness causes the leaves to become tough 

 and also induces premature flowering. It keeps 



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