Gardening for Amateurs 



1071 



Chicory. This plant is grown for the 

 value of its leaves when forced and blanched 

 in winter and spring. It should be grown 

 on land which has been deeply dug and 

 heavily manured for another crop the year 

 before. The seed is sown thinly at the end 

 of May in drills 1 foot apart. Thin out the 

 young plants in due time to 3 inches apart, 

 or if you wish to have specially large roots 

 to 5 inches apart. The seed must not be 

 sown earlier than above stated, or the plants 

 will " bolt to seed " and be useless. The 

 Witloof is the best variety. The roots will 

 be ready for forcing into leaf at the end of 

 October. Dig up as many roots as are re- 

 quired ; don't force too many at a time, or 

 the leaves will lose freshness and flavour 

 before they can be consumed. A portion at 

 the base of each of the roots may be cut off 

 (say 3 or 4 inches). They can then be 

 packed upright, close together, in shallow 

 boxes filled with soil, and placed in a dark 

 position where the temperature will range 

 from 50 to 55 Fahr. ; a dark cellar or any 

 other place where they can be kept in perfect 

 darkness will do. Darkness is essential or 

 they will not blanch well. The cooler the 

 temperature the better is the flavour ; but 

 the roots can be forced more quickly, if 

 necessar} T , in a higher temperature. To keep 

 up a succession, every ten days or so during 

 winter and spring place in warmth as many 

 roots as are required, and there will be a 

 continuous supply. After the old roots have 

 given a crop of blanched foliage they are of 

 no use, and may be thrown away. 



Corn Salad (Lamb's Lettuce). This is 

 a useful hardy winter salad. It may also be 

 had for summer use if desired, but is not 

 generally cared for when Lettuces are plenti- 

 ful. It is easily grown. Sow seed thinly in 

 drills 10 inches apart about the middle of 

 August, and again in September to produce 

 plants for winter and spring use. If plants 

 are wanted in summer, then sow early in 

 March and again at the end of April, as young 

 leaves are better than old ones. Cover the 

 seed 1 inch deep, and thin out the young 

 plants to 9 inches apart as soon as you can 

 conveniently take hold of them. The round- 

 leaved variety is the best. 



Cress. This is an indispensable salad 

 plant, and fortunately is available all the 



year round by forcing in slight warmth dur- 

 ing winter and spring. For the winter and 

 spring supply seed is sown rather thickly in 

 fine soil (and not covered) in shallow boxes, 

 and placed in a greenhouse having a tem- 

 perature of from 60 to 65 Fahr. In about 

 a fortnight it is fit to cut. Sow often to secure 

 an unbroken succession. For a summer sup- 

 ply it should be grown in a partly shaded 

 position in drills 5 inches apart. Water 

 frequently to keep fresh. 



American or Land Cress. This is a useful 

 salad plant in hot, dry summers, when others 

 are scarce, as it stands heat and drought well. 

 Sow in drills in partial shade and rich soil 

 early in March, as advised for Corn Salad, 

 and again in August for winter use if 

 desired. 



Water Cress. This favourite- Cress should 

 be grown wherever there is a small stream 

 available, or even where an artificial one 

 can be made. The plant is of easy cultiva- 

 tion, and is grown from cuttings about 5 

 inches long, which are planted in the bed of 

 the stream 1 foot apart and 2 inches deep, 

 pressing the soil to them firmly or they will 

 float away. When winter sets in the bed of 

 the stream should be dug up and a liberal 

 supply of rotten manure added before re- 

 planting takes place. The end of March is a 

 good time to plant the cuttings. 



Cucumber. The methods of growing 

 Cucumbers are various. In the gardens of 

 the wealthy, where a supply is expected all 

 the year round, glasshouses specially con- 

 structed and heated for the purpose are pro- 

 vided. Amateurs often have to be content 

 with a simple frame on a hotbed, or perhaps 

 they are denied even this, and have to fall 

 back on the hardier Gherkin, which in warm 

 seasons can be successfully grown out of 

 doors. Let us deal first with 



Cucumbers in a Frame. It is a mistake to 

 plant before the first week in April. The 

 Cucumber is a warmth-loving plant, and one 

 cold night might prove disastrous to its 

 growth. The material for the hotbed should 

 consist of fresh straw litter and leaves ; the 

 leaves must be more or less fresh, or they 

 will give no heat, and consequently will be 

 of no use for this purpose. Take the precau- 

 tion of collecting fresh leaves in the autumn 

 (Beech and Oak are the best), and store in 



