SPINACH. 139 



tied in round bunches of six to eight. It is marketable 

 in the fall, but more generally used in winter, and can be 

 put away to use at that season in trenches like celery, or 

 in beds like late cabbage for seed, partially covering the 

 leaves. 



Seed, The seed is produced the second year, and the 

 plants, being perfectly hardy, may remain in the ground 

 for that purpose. 



The seed-heads are very similar to those of the Dande- 

 lion, but much larger, and like that, when the seed is ripe, 

 expand to a head covered with furze. The pods should 

 be cut when about half-open, cutting the furze away at 

 the same time. 



It must be attended to several times each day in the 

 hight, as it will soon blow away when fully expanded. 

 It retains its vitality two years. There are no varieties. 



SPINACH. 



Extensively grown by market-gardeners, but not a very 

 good article for shipping, though it may be grown to 

 advantage in localities not very remote from market. 



Soil and Preparation. Spinach does best in a light 

 loam, which, to grow it in perfection, must be highly 

 manured. It may follow early cabbage, onions, or any 

 early crop which has had a liberal manuring. 



Clear the ground, plow and harrow thoroughly, and 

 smooth the surface, turning under twenty two-horse loads 

 of stable-manure, or harrowing in one thousand pounds 

 of bone-flour, or five hundred pounds of guano, to the 

 acre. Mark rows fifteen inches apart, one inch and a half 

 deep, in which sow the seed moderately thin, using about 

 six pounds to the acre. The season for sowing is about 

 the tenth of September, but may be sown early in the 

 spring, but then will not come so early into market, nor 

 yield so heavily as when fall-sown. It is quite hardy, and 



