SPINACH. 203 



Spinaceous Plants. 



SPINACH {Spinacea oleracea) is an ai^ual plant, and is a 

 native of Western Asia. It has long been cultivated for 

 the sake of its succulent leaves, which, when properly 

 dressed, form an agreeable and nutritious article of food. 

 There are three varieties : the smooth-seeded, the large- 

 leaved or Flanders, having also smooth seeds, and the 

 prickly-seeded. The latter, as being the most hardy, is 

 often called winter spinach. 



The first sowing is made in August, in some sheltered 

 situation; the plants, as they advance, are thinned, and 

 the ground is hoed. In the beginning of winter the outer 

 leaves become fit for use; in mild weather successive 

 gatherings are obtained, and, with proper management, the 

 crops may be prolonged to the beginning of May. 



To afford a succession-crop, the seeds of the round- 

 leaved smooth-seeded varieties should be sown in the end 

 of January, and again in February and March. From 

 this period it is proper to sow small quantities once a fort- 

 night, summer spinach lasting only a short time. The 

 open spaces between the lines of cauliflower, and others of 

 the cabbage tribe, will generally afford enough of room for 

 these transient crops. They are generally sown in shallow 

 drills, and are thinned out and weeded as may be required. 



In the United States, the winter crops of spinach are 

 sown in August, and the plants generally protected through 

 the winter by a light covering of matts, straw, or other 

 clean litter. The crops intended for summer and fall use, 

 may be sown from the first of April to the middle of May, 

 and will come in very well between the rows of peas. It 

 requires rich ground, and is almost worthless where grown 

 on thin or exhausted soil. "When too thick, the plants are 



