SPINACH. 207 



Some recommend the mixing of soot witli.tlie manure, 

 as a protection against the attacks of maggots, by which 

 this pLant is greatly infested. Late autumn planting, 

 however, is found the best expedient, as the bulbs are 

 ripe and lifted next summer before the larvoe commence 

 their depredations. 



Garlic {Allium Sativum) and Rocambole [Allium 

 Scerodoprasum), thoilgh common ingredients in conti- 

 nental cookery, are comparatively seldom used in Eng- 

 land. A few rows wilh generally be found sufficient. 

 They are propagated by offsets or cloves from the bulbs, 

 or by the bulbils which grow on the flower-stem. The 

 Oiiivj: or Qive [Allium Schoenoprasum), a pretty little 

 native plant, is used occasionally as salad and alliaceous 

 seasoning. A single row may be planted as an edging 

 to an onion bed, and it ,is easily increased by parting 

 the r^ots in spring and autumn. - This is a hardy pe- 

 rennial, and when once started inay be kept growing for 

 many years. Its flavor partakes of that of the leek 

 and onion. 



Spinaceous Plants. 



Spinach [Spinacea oleracea) is an annual plant, and 

 is a native of Western Asia. It has long been cultivat- 

 ed for the' sake of its succulent leaves, which, when pro- 

 perly 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, i& often called winter spinach. 



The first sowing is made in August, in some sheltered 

 situation ; th-e plants, as they advance, are thinned, an'd 

 the o:round is hood. In the be^innino; of winter the out- 



