AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 179 



It will be esteemed by those who fancy salads made up in 

 the modes of Paris, or Madrid, or Vienna ; but, after all, it is 

 simply the " sour-grass" of our boyhood. 



SPINACH. 



French, Epinard. German, Spinal. Spinal Kohl. Spanish, Espinaca. 



PRICKLY (SEEDED). ROUND (SEEDED) OR SAVOY. 



BRIEF DIRECTIONS. 



Sow in shallow drills twelve inches apart. Cover lightly, 

 and if dry, give water. Keep clean, and spread straw or ever- 

 green brush thinly over it for the winter. 



Time : earliest fall or first of spring at the North. Through- 

 out the fall or at the opening of spring at the South general- 

 ly. At the extreme South, throughout the " winter months" 

 also. In New York, September and March. 



Spinach is the first green vegetable that spring yields for 

 cooking, affording a pleasant and wholesome dish at a season 

 when nothing remains of our last year's store but roots and 

 winter cabbage. Many persons esteem it very highly for 

 greens, while some think it but little superior to the common 

 dock leaf. It comes, however, earlier than the latter, and has 

 therefore an advantage in point of time, if not in quality. 



There are several varieties, but the round seeded Savoy spin- 

 ach, having a thick, crum.pled leaf, is the best for ordinary use. 

 It should be sown in rows as above directed, and if sown in the 

 fall, hardy cabbage lettuce may be profitably sown in alternate 

 rows between it, which will winter with the same slight cover- 

 ing, and may either be transplanted at the opening of spring 

 for very early heading, or cultivated where it stands after the 

 spinach is cut. 



NEW ZEALAND SPINACH. 



The New Zealand spinach, Tetragona expansa, is a rather 

 coarse summer " green," not particularly desirable where the 

 ordinary green vegetables are attainable, but may. be of value 

 in very warm climates. 



