MISCELLANEOUS 143 



annual, nearly hardy, and may be sown in April in 

 the garden like lettuce, or in late summer for fall 

 use. Water cress is the kind usually seen in mar- 

 kets, being better known than the garden variety. 



ENDIVE. Henry A. Dreer says : "Endive is 

 one of the best and most wholesome salads for fall 

 and winter use. Sow in shallow drills in April for 

 early use ; or for late use sow in June or July. When 

 three inches high, transplant or thin out to one foot 

 apart. When nearly full grown, and before they are 

 fit for the table, the plants must be bleached. This 

 is done by gathering the leaves together and tying, 

 to exclude the light and air from the inner leaves, 

 which must be done when quite dry, or they will rot. 

 Another method is to cover the plants with boards 

 or slats. In three or four weeks they will be 

 blanched." 



GINSENG. A hardy perennial plant found grow- 

 ing wild in shady places in many parts of the coun- 

 try, the roots of which are prized for medicinal pur- 

 poses by the Chinese. Seeds are planted in the fall 

 but usually do not germinate for eighteen months, 

 and not at all if not expertly handled; therefore 

 most gardeners who want to grow ginseng buy 

 young plants or roots of some professional grower. 

 The roots grow slowly, and five or six years must 

 elapse before they are large enough to gather. A 

 sandy-loam soil and partial shade are best. 



Some folks seem to see a big future for culti- 

 vated ginseng ; but personal observation and inquiry 

 have made me a little sceptical about it. I can not 

 advise my readers to invest heavily in the business 

 nor to build rosy air-castles on possible profits. The 

 Chinese are the only buyers of the dried roots, and 

 the commercial possibilities of the business are there- 



