l62 



grown are the Black Beauty, Long Purple and 

 Black Pekin. 



ENDIVE 



This plant is widely grown for European mar- 

 kets, but is just beginning to be appreciated in this 

 country. It is not generally found in the home gar- 

 dens, but deserves a place there because it supplies 

 a long-felt want in the way of a salad plant for the 

 fall and early winter season. It fills the same place 

 in the fall of the year as lettuce does in the spring 

 and is often called fall lettuce. 



It is admirably adapted to use as garnishes, greens 

 and salads. It is also frequently used, like parsley, 

 in flavoring vegetables and meats. Its soil require- 

 ments are similar to those of the lettuce plant, grow- 

 ing best on sandy loams well supplied with organic 

 matter and an abundance of available nitrogen. The 

 value of the plant is greatly increased by blanching, 

 which usually requires from 15 to 20 days. This is 

 done in a variety of ways. The leaves may be gath- 

 ered together and tied with rafifia or string. The 

 tied plants may be covered with flower pots or tile. 

 Boards are frequently used and in many cases the 

 plants are mulched with straw or leaves where it is 

 desired to hold the plants until after severe 

 weather comes on. It is quite hardy and will stand 

 a considerable amount of freezing. 



The plants are frequently dug with some soil ad- 

 hering to the roots and closely packed in cellars or 

 pits as already described for the celery. It is highly 

 important that the heart of the plant be kept dry 

 during the blanching process and that it be used as 

 soon as sufficiently blanched, otherwise the leaves 

 are very likely to decay. 



