116 VEGETABLE GAKDENING. 



good garden soil that is well manured. Seed may be 

 sown towards the end of March, and for succession 

 about every three weeks up to June. Sow in drills 

 1 inch deep and 1 foot apart, thinning the plants 

 to 4 inches apart when large enough. Hoe fre- 

 quently, and water freely in dry weather. Spinach 

 is very suitable to use as an inter-crop between the 

 rows of peas and other slow-growing crops. It 

 responds readily to weak liqukl manure. 



About the third week in Aug ist, ground cleared of 

 early potatoes, etc., should be forked over and raked 

 level, and then sown with spinach for winter and 

 spring use. Sow and thin as above, making a sec- 

 ond sowing about the middle of September. These 

 two sowings will give produce at intervals during 

 winter, and in greater abundance after active growth 

 starts in spring up to the end of April or May, when 

 the plants are liable to run to seed and must be dug 

 up to make way for another crop. 



Spinach Beet. 



This plant is grown for its succulent green leaves, 

 which it produces in abundance under good cultiva- 

 tion, and which may be used like ordinary spinach. 

 The white midribs may be cooked by themselves 

 similarly to asparagus. 



Sow in early April in drills 15 inches apart, and 

 thin the plants later to 8 inches apart, to provide 

 a supply during late summer and autumn. The 

 plants are hardy and may be left in the ground to 

 produce leaves the following spring, until they begin 

 to run to seed, when they must be dug up. Another 



