2NDIVE. 57 



is a fine stocky and hardy variety, is the principal sort for 

 salads, and when well cultivated, is very beautiful. 



Broad-Leaved lias a plain, thick leaf, slightly wrinkled, and 

 turning inwards ; it is preferred for stews and soups. 



White Curled is rather a delicate variety, and cannot well 

 be carried through the Winter ; its principal use is therefore 

 for the early Autunin crop. It will blanch in a few days. 



Batavian is a broad, plain-leaved sort, principally cultivated 

 for cooking, and makes a fine head. 



Culture. — For the early crop, sow about the first of July. 

 It will do on the ground where early Cabbage or Peas have 

 come off, by giving it a coat of manure. Draw drills the depth 

 of the hoe, one foot apart, and sow therein ; sprinkle a little 

 earth in the bottom of the drill sufficient to cover the seed, 

 which will be up in a few days. If dry weather ensue, water 

 once or twice till the plants get hold. Thin them out when 

 about two inches high to ten inches apart ; hoe freely, and 

 keep clear of weeds. Being grown in these shallow drills, they 

 are more easily earthed up and grow better in warm, dry 

 weather. When the leaves have attained about eight inches 

 long they are fit for blanching ; for this purpose a dry day must 

 be chosen. Gather up the leaves in your hand, in a close and 

 rounded form ; see that there is no earth or litter in their cen- 

 tre ; tie them up with a piece of cotton-twist or mating, which 

 is to go several times round the plant, causing it to close at the 

 top to prevent the rain from penetrating to and injuring its cen- 

 tre ; then draw a little earth round its base for support. If 

 the leaves are not perfectly dry when tied up, they will rot, or 

 become so stained as to be unfit for the table. They will take 

 about ten days in warm and twenty days in cool weather to 

 blanch for use ; a judgment may thus be formed of the quan 

 tity to be tied up at a time. For late crops, sow about the 

 end of July. If the ground is not ready, they may be sown 

 in a bed and transplanted during moist weather, giving a few 



