SPINACH 411 



Spinach requires a good supply of humus in the soil and will not 

 tolerate highly acid conditions. The use of lime on spinach is very 

 beneficial when the soils are acid or have been long and heavily 

 treated with commercial fertilizers. Besides lime, spinach responds 

 to potash and nitrogen ; but stable manure or green manures, such 

 as cowpeas or crimson clover, should be a feature in the rotation 

 for this crop. 



Enemies and diseases. The green fly is the worst pest of the 

 spinach grower. If for any reason the plants become severely 



FIG. 1 54. A novel arrangement for cultivating spinach 



retarded in their growth, they are almost certain to become infested 

 with the aphis. Great care should be exercised to keep the plants 

 growing thriftily, as in such condition they are much less likely 

 to be attacked. Once thoroughly infested, it is a very difficult 

 matter to rid the plants of the insects. Much can be done with 

 kerosene emulsion, but frequent rains and cool weather are more 

 effective than sprays. Spinach is apt to suffer in some localities 

 where it has long been under cultivation on light soils and where 

 commercial fertilizers have been used in an excessive way. It 



