Spinach. 313 



given in a variety of ways, according to the circumstances of 

 the grower and the materials readiest to hand; the shallow 

 box frames meet every requirement, but efficient protection 

 can also be readily devised by using straw, heather, bracken, 

 furze, or similar material, in conjunction with short stakes, so 

 as to make low wind-proof fences ; in the case of severe frost 

 or snow a number of straw mats laid on cross battens will 

 make the protection complete. Care must be exercised not to 



overdo the picking of 

 the winter crop or 

 the plants will soon 

 be spoiled. Only the 

 largest leaves should 

 be taken and they 

 should be picked 

 singly, so as not to 

 cause any injury. 

 Growth in the winter 

 is slow, and to meet 

 the demand, which 

 at this season often 

 exceeds the supply, 

 increased breadths 

 should be sown in 

 the autumn, in accor- 



Copyright, V. A. & Co. , ., , , , 



dance with the ex- 

 Large Prickly or Winter Spinach. pected requ i re ments. 



General Culture. This, in the main, consists of keeping the 

 soil free of weeds and the surface frequently stirred, especially 

 in the early stages, so as to encourage rapid growth. As the 

 weather gets warm and dry the effect of indifferent preparation 

 will be at once seen by the plants immediately bolting, and the 

 crop thus completely lost ; the only way to ensure an abundant 

 growth of large succulent leaves in the hot summer months 

 being by deep working of the soil, assisted by mulches and 

 frequent waterings. In a cold wet season, Spinach makes an 

 abundant growth without much help, and being, very plentiful, 

 realises a poor price in the market ; in such circumstances, 

 apart from keeping weeds down, it may be left to take its own 



