VEGETABLES 307 



2. When the young plants come up, stir the soil surface, 



and after the first true leaves appear, weed and thin 

 to three inches apart, being careful to distinguish 

 the seedlings from grass. 



3. Give frequent tillage and keep the plants free from 



weeds throughout the season. 



4. Some of the roots may be dug in autumn and others 



left in the ground until spring, in the latter case 

 being covered with leaves or litter to prevent 

 alternate freezing and thawing at the surface of the 

 ground. 



Record of Growth. 



1. Seed: size, shape, and color. Is the "seed" an achene? 



2. Date of coming up. Shape and size of seed-leaves. 



3. Date of thinning. Number of true leaves. 



4. Dates of harvesting. 



Drawings. 



1. Seeds. 



2. Seedling with seed-leaves well developed. 



3. Seedling at time of thinning. 



4. Full-grown root. 



The Story. 



Write the story of how you grew a crop of salsify. When 

 does it blossom ? Is it an annual or biennial ? Do 

 you see any relation in root or plant to the common 

 chicory found along the roadside? Why is salsify 

 called "vegetable oyster"? What have you found 

 to be the best wavs to cook the roots? 



