Chicory. 



197 



CHICORY. 



Chichorium Intybus. 



WHEN forced and blanched, Chicory makes a very whole- 

 some and acceptable salad for the winter and early 

 spring months, and as it is easy to grow and appears to be 

 increasing in favour with the general public, attention should 

 be paid to its cultivation. 



As good strong roots should be available for 

 forcing, the soil for this crop should be well 

 manured, deeply dug, and moist, so that a free 

 growth may be obtained. Seed should be sown 

 in the latter part of May or early in June, in 

 rows 1ft. apart, and the plants thinned out to 

 9in. apart in the row. The only attention 

 needed during growth is hoeing and, if the 

 season is exceptionally dry, occasional watering, 

 though Chicory, being deep-rooted, is better 

 able to thrive in a drought than most plants. 



When the leaves have died down, about the 

 beginning of November, the roots can be lifted. 

 They should then be about 2in. through at the 

 top. Trim off any leaves remaining to within 

 iin. of the top, and rub off all small shoots, 

 leaving only the main crown. Cut all the roots 

 at the bottom to bring them to one uniform 

 length of from Sin. to lOin. They can then be stored away 

 until wanted for forcing, in fine moist soil or sand, and as a 

 very little increase of temperature is sufficient to excite growth, 

 they should be put in a position which although safe from hard 

 frost is still cold, such as the foot of a wall or in an open shed, 

 or in a trench in the open covered with Gin. of ordinary soil. 



Forcing can be carried on from the time the roots are lifted, 

 and with good management an unbroken supply can be main- 

 tained from November to May. The operation may be done 

 in numerous ways, according to the quantity to be handled, 

 always remembering that whatever method is adopted, absolute 

 darkness is essential. One method is to plant them in a box 



Chicory 

 (Whitloef). 



