VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 425 



SPINACH. — (Spinacia oleracca.) 



Spinach is a hardy annual of the same family with the 

 beet (Chenopodiaceae), and has been cultivated in English 

 gardens since 1508, and probably long before. Some 

 refer its origin to Western Asia. The leaves are large, 

 stems hollow, and the male and female flowers produced 

 on different plants. Its name, Spinacea, is derived from 

 the Latin, spina, a thorn, on account of the prickly seed 

 of one variety. 



There are four sorts, three of which are smooth seeded, 

 and the other prickly. 



Round-Leaved has large, roundish, and fleshy leaves, 

 and is the sort commonly used for spring and summer 

 crops. Late in the season it soon runs to seed. 



Lettuce-Leaved. — Leaves rounder than the last; 

 fleshy, or thick, and of a dark-green color; nearly or quite 

 as hardy as the last. 



Prickly - Seeded, ok Winter Spinach. — Leaves 

 smaller and thinner than the other sorts, triangular- 

 shaped, and very hardy. 



Henderson's Savoy-Leaved or Bloomsdale is a 

 variety producing leaves very much folded and bloated. 

 For this reason it stands shipping well. It is one of the 

 earliest varieties grown. 



Long Standing is a good fall and spring variety; has 

 thick leaves; prostrate. 



Culture. — For the winter crop, a light, dry, but fertile 

 soil is preferable; while for spring sowings, to have them 

 long in use, a rich, moist loam is desirable. The lime and 

 salt mixture with superphosphate of lime will supply 

 most of the inorganic elements required by spinach. Give 

 them an open situation. The earth should be well pulver- 

 ized before sowing, as fine tilth greatly promotes vigor- 



