88 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



Swiss chard. A special word may be said con- 

 cerning Swiss chard or the chard or leaf-beet. 

 Its growth differs so much from the ordinary 

 table beet that it is classed among the "pot-herb 

 crops." It has been so carefully bred for salad 

 foliage and for greens that now, like celery or 

 spinach, it is almost entirely foliage. The big, 

 broad, light green, thick succulent leaves are 

 supported by tough branched roots, just large 

 enough to balance the heavy top and provide the 

 necessary sustenance. Its luxuriant growth, un- 

 hindered by the heat, continues throughout the 

 entire summer and for this reason furnishes a 

 most excellent supplement to spinach, for the 

 latter cannot endure midsummer heat. 



The Swiss chard is ready for use when the early 

 spinach and the beet thinnings are gone; and, 

 when cared for, will keep on furnishing the ten- 

 derest greens all summer long. Sow the Swiss 

 chard seeds about 4 inches apart, thinning as the 

 plants grow, until they stand no less than 16 

 inches apart. This will allow plenty of room 

 for the biggest growth. Only one sowing need be 

 made, for, as we know, Swiss chard is an all-sea- 

 son vegetable. Feed at least twice as much nitro- 

 gen as would be given to the other varieties. Treat 

 Swiss chard as a foliage plant, apply nitrogen 

 freely, give it plenty of water and keep stirring the 

 soil. Such care will insure big crisp leaves. As 

 soon as the leaves are large enough to use, begin 



