666 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



of its leaves (which, however, are distinctly arrow-shaped) and 

 by its great productiveness. When sown thin, it often forms 

 broad spreading tufts, with numerous branches, plentifully covered 

 with leaves and rather slow in flowering. This habit of growth is 

 peculiar to the plant. The Round-seeded varieties usually form 

 only a simple rosette, from which, at flowering time, one or more 

 vertical stems issue, bearing from their earliest growth well- 

 developed organs of fructification. These stems also are hollow at 

 the centre and much thicker, being sometimes ii to if in." in 

 diameter, while the stems of the Prickly-seeded kinds are seldom 

 thicker than one's finger. This is a good, vigorous-growing, and 

 hardy variety, and, as we have already observed, is preferred by 

 the Parisian market-gardeners to all other kinds for spring sowings. 

 There is a Prickly-seeded variety with roundish leaves, which 

 bears a tolerable resemblance to the Lettuce-leaved Spinach, and is 

 known by the name of Epinard Camus de Bordeaux, or E. Rond 

 a Graine Piquante. It is very clear that, of two varieties which are 

 equally good in other respects, the preference will always be given 

 to the Round-seeded kind, the seed being more convenient to 

 handle and more easily sown. 



ROUND-SEEDED SPINACH 



Spinacia glabra, Miller ; Spinacia oleracea /3, L. 

 Epinard a graine ronde. 



The opinion of botanists that the Round-seeded Spinach is a 

 distinct species from the Prickly-seeded, appears to be well founded, 

 as the shape of the seed is a very permanent characteristic in these 



plants. Horticulturally 

 also, the two kinds are 

 clearly different, the 

 Round - seeded always 

 growing more thick-set 

 and forming more com- 

 pact and less spreading 

 tufts than the Prickly- 

 seeded varieties. Their 

 germinating power lasts 

 for five years. 



Round- seeded 

 Round - leaved Large 



Large Dutch Spinach. Dutch Spinach. A 



good, vigorous, and hardy 



kind. Leaves arrow-shaped, large and broad, light green, crimped, 

 especially while young, with blunt points generally slightly turned 

 underneath. The leaf-stalks are about as long as the blades of the 



