426 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



GROUP IV. Prickly Seeded Spinach. "Plants varia- 

 ble, leaves often with long and slender stalks and rather 

 narrow blades. Seeds with hornlike projections. This 

 kind of spinach is not readily sown with ordinary seed 

 drills." Prickly Seeded is a standard variety of this 

 group. 



GROUP V. New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia ex- 

 pansa) and GROUP VI. Mountain Spinach (A triplex hor- 

 tensis) are not generally known among vegetable 

 growers. 



601. Culture. A very rich, constantly moist soil is 

 required to grow a heavy crop of spinach. In soils of 

 moderate fertility the plants become spindling and the 

 production light. Composted stable manures are espe- 

 cially valuable. The fertilizer employed should contain 

 a high percentage of nitrogen. Mixtures used at Nor- 

 folk supply about 8 per cent of nitrogen, 2 to 5 per cent 

 phosphoric acid and 2 per cent potash. They are used 

 at the rate of about one ton an acre, applied in portions 

 at different times throughout the season. The general 

 practice is to make the fall sowings in low beds, 5 to 9 

 feet wide. This method provides perfect surface drain- 

 age. The rows, which should be 10 to 14 inches apart, 

 are drilled lengthwise of the beds and the plants thinned 

 4 to 6 inches apart. It is important to sow in good time, so 

 that the plants will become thoroughly established before 

 winter. September 25 is the favorite time for sowing at 

 Norfolk, although drilling begins about September i and 

 continues until November 15. From 15 to 30 pounds of 

 seed are required to the acre. Frequent tillage with the 

 wheel hoe is just as essential as for other cultivated 

 crops. In the North a mulch of manure or other material 

 is valuable in affording winter protection, although in 

 many districts this is not considered necessary. A push 

 or shuffle hoe is often used in cutting the roots when 

 the crop is gathered. The plants must be trimmed of 



