ENDIVE 



297 



any way. Only a given number, 

 according to the demand, should be 

 covered at a time, as the plants will 

 not keep long after being blanched. 

 Where portable garden frames are 

 abundant, any number of plants may 

 be covered with these, the lights 

 being put on and further protection 

 in the shape of mats and litter given 

 when necessary. It is when frames 

 are scarce that the grower has to 

 adopt various contrivances in order 

 to meet with the demand for salad- 

 ing. In some districts Endive does 

 not keep well if lifted and stored, 

 but in less moist neighbourhoods I 

 have kept great numbers closely 

 packed in frames. In this case the 

 plants were lifted before severe 

 frosts were anticipated, as if only 

 slightly injured early decay is certain 

 to follow. A dry day was selected, 

 the plants carefully tied up, lifted 

 up with a trowel so as to secure a 

 good ball of earth to the roots, and 

 they were then carried in hand- 

 barrows to the frame ground. 

 Frames previously used for Melon, 

 Cucumber, and Tomato culture 

 were filled rather closely with the 

 Endive, and into the good soil they 

 soon pushed fresh roots. The whole 

 of the plants were untied, and were 

 blanched with hay according as 

 required, the last to be covered 

 being the Batavian, this being the 

 best keeping sort. I do not care to 

 leave any quantity of Endive in the 

 open from want of frame room, and 

 have frequently stored some in a 

 Mushroom-house for early use, and 

 many more in a dry shed, these 

 proving serviceable in lengthening 

 the period before those better stored 

 under the frames, or covered where 

 grown, are cut. Whatever plan of 

 storing is adopted, care should 

 always be taken to lift before the 

 plants are injured and when as dry 

 as possible. The small or half- 



grown plants of the hardiest sort 

 sometimes stand out uninjured 

 during the winter, especially if 

 planted on a dry or raised border, 

 and these sometimes prove of ser- 

 vice in maintaining the supply of 

 salading till such times as the frame 

 Lettuces are fit for use. W. I. 



Endive is largely grown in nearly 

 all market-gardens round London, 

 and especially in those situated in 

 moist districts. The first sowing is 

 usually made early in May, either in 

 frames or on prepared beds in the 

 open air. In either case, good rich 

 soil is used in which to sow the seed, 

 and the surface after sowing is made 

 firm by being beaten with the back 

 of the spade. The chief point in 

 reference to early-sown Endive is to 

 keep the plants continually growing, 

 as if they experience the least check 

 they run to seed or "bolt," as it is 

 termed. On this account early 

 Endive, as a rule, is not grown in 

 very large quantities. The principal 

 sowing is made early in June, and is 

 succeeded by smaller ones to the 

 end of July. In most cases the out- 

 door sowings are made on the ground 

 on which they are to grow, as on 

 Celery ridges or between the rows 

 of any crops where there is room, 

 and for which the ground was well 

 manured. Sometimes, however, the 

 seed is sown on beds, and the seed- 

 lings thinned out if too thick, and 

 transplanted when sufficiently large 

 to handle. In any case the distance 

 apart of permanent plants is from 

 12 to 15 in. Endive and Lettuces 

 are frequently planted on land 

 alternately, large fields being often 

 devoted to them ; sometimes whole 

 fields of Endive alone occur. Blanch- 

 ing is effected by tying up the leaves 

 like those of Lettuces with withies 

 or pieces of bast. In from twelve 

 to fifteen days after being tied up 

 Endive is ready for market. The 



